FC Copenhagen, in strong form, targets a second Scottish victory

FC Copenhagen is set to host Heart of Midlothian at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Thursday, 12 December, with kick-off at 17:45 GMT. Coverage will be available on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland Extra, with updates on the BBC Sport website and app. This Conference League fixture follows FC Copenhagen’s elimination of Scottish club Kilmarnock in the play-off round. Hearts will be the second Scottish team to play at FC Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium in the current Conference League season. Their goal is to advance towards European knockout stages, an achievement not reached since 1989. While Neil Critchley’s squad can draw considerable encouragement from Kilmarnock’s performance against the Danish team over two legs, despite their defeat, Hearts’ most promising opportunity to reach the crucial nine-point threshold appears to be their upcoming final home match against Moldovan club Petrocub next week. Although Kilmarnock demonstrated Copenhagen’s susceptibility, the situation has evolved significantly in the four months since the Ayrshire club’s 3-1 aggregate loss over two legs in a contest that was finely balanced. At that earlier point, Copenhagen was contending with injuries and displayed inconsistent form while attempting to incorporate new players into the squad during the initial phase of the campaign. Currently, following a streak of four consecutive victories and an unbeaten run of 12 matches, Denmark’s most decorated club is exhibiting indications of returning to the caliber of the team that reached the Champions League last 16 last season, achieving wins against Manchester United and draws with Bayern Munich during that run. Consequently, the timing of this fixture seems disadvantageous for Hearts. In addition to Copenhagen’s enhanced performance, which has propelled them to the top of the Danish Super League based on goal difference, their fixture list is also favorable. Their 3-1 victory against Nordsjaelland on 2 December marked their last league fixture before the winter break, with the top division not recommencing until February. This allowed Copenhagen to rest several players over the weekend for their Danish Cup quarter-final match against a second-tier opponent, yet still secure a 3-1 win, with the return leg scheduled for Sunday. As a result, Jacob Neestrup’s team can concentrate on securing the necessary points in their European matches against Hearts and Rapid Vienna before their extended break. Having accumulated only five points from their three matches thus far – one less than Hearts – Copenhagen is in urgent need of a win. Their initial victory of the campaign came in their previous outing, a 2-1 away win against Dinamo Minsk, which replicated Hearts’ scoreline against the identical opponent. Prior to that, they recorded a 1-1 draw at Real Betis and a 2-2 draw at home against Istanbul Basaksehir, alongside a 2-1 defeat in the final minute at Parken against Polish team Jagiellonia. While their European journey has been challenging, Copenhagen still has an opportunity to rescue their campaign, and this particular match appears to be their most significant chance. Copenhagen’s primary strength is undeniably their offensive capability, as they have only failed to score in two of their 30 matches played this season. Former Celtic forward Mohamed Elyounoussi stands out, having scored nine goals and provided nine assists this season, which resulted in him being recognized as the Super League’s top player for the initial half of the campaign. Brazilian teenager Robert Silva also demonstrates speed and elusiveness on the left flank, while veteran striker Andreas Cornelius serves as the team’s central attacking figure. Their midfield also possesses significant experience, featuring former Borussia Dortmund player Thomas Delaney and captain Viktor Claesson, who collectively hold more than 150 international caps for Denmark and Sweden, respectively. Particularly with the support of an enthusiastic home crowd at the 38,000-capacity Parken Stadium, Copenhagen will aim to assert control over Hearts and dictate the play. However, defensively, they exhibit vulnerabilities. They have managed only one clean sheet in their last 14 matches, suggesting that individual talent, rather than collective teamwork, is often securing results. Their defensive approach lacks aggression, making them susceptible to balls played into their penalty area, and the goals conceded against Basaksehir and Minsk, specifically, stemmed from poor individual mistakes. Furthermore, their defensive line has been frequently exposed by through balls during their Conference League campaign. Lawrence Shankland recently scored two goals against Dundee, concluding a 12-game scoring drought, which is expected to significantly boost his confidence. However, it remains uncertain whether a team that averages slightly more than one goal per game in the Scottish Premiership possesses the necessary capabilities to capitalize on Copenhagen’s defensive frailties. Hearts supporters will occupy an entire stand behind one of the goals at Parken Stadium, which notably features a Michelin Star Restaurant on its eighth floor, as approximately 3,000 fans are expected to travel from Edinburgh. For their supporters to cherish this experience for years, Hearts will need to deliver their strongest performance of what has been an inconsistent season.