Hearts vs Basaksehir prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-07 16:45.
It’s been a long wait for Hearts since they participated in their last European group stage back in 2004/05, but now a sold-out Tynecastle finally gets to experience a big European night again. With last season’s continental fixtures seeing the likes of unfancied Bodø/Glimt twice beating Roma, and Sheriff Tiraspol famously topping Real Madrid, even the visit of a strong İstanbul Başakşehir side isn’t likely to stop Hearts fans of dreaming that they could be the new headline makers in a tough UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) group that also contains Fiorentina.
Manager Robbie Neilson has already voiced concern around fatigue in the build-up to this match though, after watching his side play seven games in three weeks, going on to lose five of those (W2). That includes two defeats in Europa League qualifying to Swiss champions Zürich, although Hearts did put in a spirited display in the home leg, narrowly losing 1-0 despite playing with ten men for close to 40 minutes.
However, the 1988/89 UEFA Cup quarter finalists must now welcome a visiting Başakşehir side in formidable form, unbeaten this season in all competitions (W7, D3), as part of a run that has seen the Istanbul outfit last taste defeat back in mid-March. In-form Başakşehir’s last European group stage appearance was actually in the 2020/21 Champions League – where they famously beat Manchester United 2-1 – so their first-ever trip to Scotland is unlikely to fill them with fear.
With former Real Madrid and Arsenal man Mesut Özil now starring in the visitors’ midfield after making the summer switch from Fenerbahçe, this is a Başakşehir side that’ll have their eyes on topping this group. And with all three of their European away games this term seeing them win after leading 1-0 at half-time, the visitors are likely to start well in both this game and UECL Group A.
Key battle: New Hearts number nine Lawrence Shankland already has four goals this season, with three being scored before the 25th minute! He’s up against in-form goalkeeper Volkan Babacan who – in his ninth season with Başakşehir – has recorded three clean sheets from his first three Süper Lig games of a season for the first time ever.
Hot streak: Başakşehir haven’t conceded the opening goal for nine games. In contrast, Hearts have conceded the opener in their last five.