'In-form Copenhagen seek second Scottish scalp'

FC Copenhagen knocked out Kilmarnock in the play-off round of the Conference League

Conference League: FC Copenhagen v Heart of Midlothian

Venue: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen. Date: Thursday 12 December Time: 17:45 GMT.

Coverage: Listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Radio Scotland Extra, follow updates on BBC Sport website & app.

Hearts will be the second Scottish side to visit FC Copenhagen's Parken Stadium in the Conference League this season, as they try to take a stride towards knockout European football for the first time since 1989.

Though Neil Critchley's men can take plenty of encouragement from what Kilmarnock did - albeit in defeat - over two legs against the Danish side, Hearts' best hope of hitting the magic nine-point mark still looks like their final game at home to Moldovan club Petrocub next week.

Because while Kilmarnock proved Copenhagen are vulnerable, things have changed in the four months since the Ayrshire side lost 3-1 over two legs in a tie that could have swung either way.

Back then, Copenhagen were struggling with injuries and their form was mixed as they tried to integrate fresh faces early in the campaign.

Now on the back of four straight wins and unbeaten in 12 matches, Denmark's most successful club are showing signs of getting back to being more like the side that got to the last 16 of the Champions League last season, beating Manchester United and drawing with Bayern Munich along the way.

Perfect timing for Copenhagen

The timing of this match for Hearts does not appear ideal, then.

As well as Copenhagen's improved form, which has taken them top of the Danish Super League on goal difference, their schedule is kind.

The 3-1 win over Nordsjaelland on 2 December was their final league game before the winter break, with the top flight not resuming until February.

It meant Copenhagen could rest some players at the weekend for their Danish Cup quarter-final against second-tier opposition and still win 3-1, with the home leg to come on Sunday.

Jacob Neestrup's side can therefore focus on getting the points they need in Europe against Hearts and Rapid Vienna before going into hibernation.

With just five points from their three games so far - one fewer than Hearts - Copenhagen urgently need a victory.

They got their first win of the campaign last time out, beating Dinamo Minsk 2-1 away from home, mirroring Hearts' result against the same opposition.

Before that, they drew 1-1 at Real Betis and 2-2 at home to Istanbul Basaksehir, while losing 2-1 in the last minute at Parken against Polish side Jagiellonia.

It has been a tough run, but there is time left for Copenhagen to salvage their campaign, and this game feels like their prime chance.

Can Hearts exploit vulnerabilities?

Copenhagen's strength undoubtedly is their attack, having only failed to score twice in their 30 matches this season.

Former Celtic forward Mohamed Elyounoussi is the standout, scoring nine goals and setting up a further nine so far this term, leading him to be named as the Super League's best player for the first half of the campaign.

Brazilian teenager Robert Silva is also quick and evasive down the left, while experienced striker Andreas Cornelius acts as the focal point.

They have plenty of experience in midfield too, with former Borussia Dortmund player Thomas Delaney and captain Viktor Claesson boasting over 150 international caps between them for Denmark and Sweden, respectively.

Especially with the backing of a rowdy home crowd at the 38,000-capacity Parken Stadium, Copenhagen will look to get on top of Hearts and dominate.

Defensively, though, they are vulnerable. They have kept one clean sheet in their past 14 games and there is a sense their individual quality is getting the results rather than team cohesion.

They don't defend aggressively, which means they can be exploited with balls into their box, and the goals they conceded against Basaksehir and Minsk in particular were down to bad individual errors.

The back four have been caught out repeatedly with balls in behind throughout their Conference League campaign as well.

Lawrence Shankland scored twice against Dundee to end a 12-game goal drought, which will do his confidence the world of good.

But whether a side averaging a little over a goal a game in the Scottish Premiership has the tools to take advantage of Copenhagen's vulnerabilities is less clear.

Hearts fans are being given an entire stand behind one of the goals at Parken Stadium - which includes a Michelin Star Restaurant on the eighth floor - as around 3,000 prepare to make the trip from Edinburgh.

It will take Hearts' best performance of a stuttering season to ensure their supporters can dine out on this adventure for years to come.