Hearts aim cheeky Celtic dig only for Austrian club to deliver brutal response

The Tynecastle side secured their place in the Conference League after overcoming Rapid Vienna on penalties in Austria.

A 2-2 draw sent the play-off tie to a shootout, with Hearts eventually prevailing 4-3 to book their spot in the league phase.

They wasted little time referencing Celtic’s Champions League disaster against LASK the previous evening.

Martin O’Neill’s side had travelled to Linz with a commanding 3-0 first-leg advantage and then moved four goals clear on aggregate, only to suffer an extraordinary collapse and drop into the Europa League.

Hearts took advantage of Celtic’s misery with a post on X which read: “Winning play-offs in Austria isn’t for everyone…”

However, the choice of Austria as the punchline opened the door for a rather painful response.

Sturm Graz replied: “Winning in Graz isn’t for everyone – all the best in the @Conf_League!”

It was a reference to Hearts’ own chastening European experience earlier this summer.

The Jambos were thrashed 4-0 by Sturm in Graz in July before suffering another defeat in the return leg, losing 2-0 at home to complete a comprehensive 6-0 aggregate loss.

Celtic can expect to take plenty of stick following the manner of their collapse against LASK.