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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
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David McLean

A look back at Hearts' greatest ever scalps in European competition down the years

Heart of Midlothian FC have a long history in European competition stretching back to the 1950s, with tonight's crunch 2nd leg Europa League play-off match versus FC Zurich at Tynecastle Park being their 82nd competitive bout against continental opposition.

In that time, the Gorgie boys have managed 30 wins and 18 draws, and have tasted defeat on 33 occasions, the most recent being last week's 2-1 reversal in Switzerland.

But the team can take inspiration from the fact that Hearts have notched up many massive European results down the decades, including a number of sensational victories over Europe's elite.

READ MORE: Robbie Neilson on Hearts' main driver for success as they bid to reach Europa League group stage

Let's take a look at the pick of the best.

Hearts 5-1 Lokomotive Leipzig

1976/77 European Cup Winners' Cup first round

The 1970s was far from being a vintage decade for Hearts, but this five-goal romp at home versus Lokomotive Leipzig was a bright spot in what was otherwise a barren era for the club.

Hearts had made it into the Cup Winners' Cup after defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final, with the Glasgow side lifting the treble that year and already qualified for the 1976/77 European Cup.

Goals from Roy Kay, Willie Gibson, Jim Brown and Drew Busby proved too much for the East German outfit in this first round tie, and despite losing 2-0 in the away leg, Hearts made it through to the next round by five goals to three on aggregate.

Hearts 1-0 Bayern Munich

1988/89 UEFA Cup Quarter Final

Hearts knew they would need to give it their all to stand a chance against the mighty Bayern Munich, but having already dispatched of St Patrick's, Austria Vienna and Velez Mostar they were feeling confident they could do the business.

In this highly memorable first leg tie at a packed Tynecastle, a blistering free kick from Iain Ferguson sent the Jambos fans into a state of delirium as their team came away with a very famous victory. A 2-0 loss away at the Olympic Stadion a fortnight later would sadly put the stoppers on what remains the Edinburgh club's best ever European run.

Hearts 4-2 Slavia Prague

1992/93 UEFA Cup first round

A second place finish in the 1991/92 Scottish Premier Division earned Hearts a plum tie versus Slavia Prague in the following season's UEFA Cup. The Jam Tarts fell 1-0 away in Czechoslovakia, but powered to a 4-2 victory at Tynecastle, with future boss Craig Levein among the goal scorers.

Hearts would follow up the impressive result by beating Atletico Madrid in Gorgie by two goals to one in the second round, however, a emphatic 3-0 defeat in Spain meant they would go no further.

Hearts 3-2 VfB Stuttgart

2000/01 UEFA Cup first round

Few expected Hearts to overturn their 1-0 deficit away to Bundesliga giants Stuttgart in the first leg, but they would defy their doubters by bringing the tie level under the floodlights at a positively electric Tynecastle crowd.

Jim Jefferies' side would ultimately be knocked out on the away goals rule, but ran their highly-fancied opponents extremely close.

Bordeaux 0-1 Hearts

2003/04 UEFA Cup second round

While Hearts have seldom travelled well in Europe against superior opposition, on this occasion the team raised the bar and the roof.

A looping header from Mark de Vries was enough to see Hearts depart the French wine region with a memorable away win, giving hopes that the Jambos could seal the deal at home in the second leg. Bordeaux, however, would have different ideas, and overcome the noise of the Tynecastle crowd to win 2-0.

Liverpool 1-1 Hearts

2012/13 Europa League play-off

Given how Hearts had been dismantled by five goals to nil in the same round of the same competition the previous year by Tottenham Hotspur, only the most foolhardy of Jambos fans would have predicted anything but another painful defeat at the hands of another top English side, seasoned European cracks Liverpool.

Trailing 1-0, from the first leg, Hearts arrived at Anfield with hope, but little else. Then the unthinkable happened, as Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina made a complete hash of a David Templeton long range effort, and the ball bounced into the net. The away section briefly became a frenzy of flying limbs as Hearts supporters came to the realisation that they had just taken the lead against a side with five European Cup wins to its name.

A goal from Luis Suarez would eventually put Liverpool back in front on aggregate, however, this unexpected away draw stands tall as one of the best Hearts have ever managed in Europe.

READ NEXT

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- FC Zurich ready for Tynecastle atmosphere as Franco Foda details Hearts counter attack plan

- Hearts transfer latest as Robbie Neilson enters 'closing stages' of deal for EPL talent Alex Mighten

- How to watch Hearts vs FC Zurich: TV channel, kick-off time and live stream details

- Hearts player showered with chips as fans hurl objects during Edinburgh derby

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