Hearts up against itpublished at 10 mins
Fiorentina 1-0 Hearts
Nathaniel Atkinson is back on at right-back for Hearts, incidentally. They were an inch away from going 1-0 up after 30 seconds.
Instead, they're a goal down and under the cosh.
Summary
Jovic, Baraghi, and Gonzalez strike early for rampant Italians with Barak adding fourth before break
Humphrys races in on goal to finish low at start of the second half
Hearts have one win from three games in Group A
Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 RFS in group's other game
Hearts up against itpublished at 10 mins
Postpublished at 8 mins
Fiorentina 1-0 Hearts
Andy Halliday makes a crucial tackle to stop Fiorentina going 2-0 in front.
It's another ball in behind the Hearts defence for Aleksa Terzic, and just as he's about to pull the trigger in the box Halliday slides in.
If he got that wrong, it was a certain red card.
Postpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina 1-0 Hearts
Craig Levein
Former Hearts manager on BBC SportsoundQuote MessageAtkinson is off and it's a treacherous situation for Hearts. It's headed down past Craig Gordon. It's sod's law, a man down and off the pitch, and they get a set-piece goal
Postpublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina 1-0 Hearts
Stephen Craigan
Former Northern Ireland defender on BT SportQuote MessageJovic punishes some poor marking. It's the worst possible start for Hearts.
Image source, SNSImage caption, Fiorentina's number seven nods them ahead
GOAL Fiorentina 1-0 Heartspublished at 5 mins
Luka Jovic
Too easy. Deja vu as Hearts trail after five minutes once again.
It's just a simple cross and the Serbian strike directs a powerful header into the ground which skips into the corner.
Postpublished at 4 mins
Fiorentina 0-0 Hearts
This doesn't look good for Hearts. Nathaniel Atkinson has pulled up in his own box and is going to have to go off by the look of it.
Wait, he's back on his feet. But he's off for now.
GREAT SAVE!published at 2 mins
Fiorentina 0-0 Hearts
Another one for the Craig Gordon highlights reel. A free kick comes in and Christian Kouame's fierce header is flying into the corner before the Hearts goalkeeper claws it away.
Postpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina 0-0 Hearts
Craig Levein
Former Scotland manager on BBC SportsoundQuote MessageThat's hugely encouraging, it's Hearts' press that lets them get into that position
HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 1 min
Fiorentina 0-0 Hearts
Oh my! Hearts striker Stephen Humphrys rattles the post!
It comes from a slack pass in midfield, and the visitors pounce. Humphrys' low shot from the edge of the box comes off the post, and Barrie McKay's follow up is straight at the goalkeeper.
KICK-OFFpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina 0-0 Hearts
We're up and running in Florence...
Postpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
The teams are out. The crowd is sparse, to say the least.
Hearts, though, have 4,000 of their own in the stands roaring them on.
Postpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
Michael Stewart
Former Hearts midfielder on BT SportQuote MessageShankland has been the main striker for Hearts all season. Humphrys is a different kettle of fish - he's got greater pace, and away from home, that will be the key reason he's in the side.
View from Italypublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
Andreas Giannattasio, Corriere dello Sport
I don’t think manager Vincenzo Italiano will be sacked. He has a long contract and signed a new deal in the summer.
He is having some difficulties, with the team 13th in Serie A, but the board are very confident of him because last season he did very good work.
The Hearts match is crucial not only for the coach but for the team. Conference League is a very important trophy for Fiorentina.
There have been wrong decisions taken around the transfer windows. Fiorentina bought players who have not been able to score and that has been a big problem this season.
The big win in Edinburgh last week was no big surprise as Fiorentina have much more quality than Hearts. But playing against a Scottish team is not easy.
Postpublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
Craig Levein
Former Hearts manager on BBC SportsoundQuote MessageI don't think I can see Hearts keeping a clean sheet tonight. I hope they play with aggression tonight though, if they play as passively [as the previous game] it'll be a long night
'How often do you get nights like this?'published at 17:32 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson tells BBC Sportsound: “The guys we’re bringing in are very good players and they’re looking forward to representing the club in Europe and playing in a stadium like this, against a team like this.
“We decided to make a couple of changes after the last few games to freshen up the team. Last week we didn't get up the park enough as we sat in a back five but today it’ll be a back four, we’ll have a bit more numbers up front to pressure and try to get us up the pitch.
Image source, SNSImage caption, Robbie Neilson takes in the Artemio Franchi Stadium
“Last week we lost a poor goal after four minutes which really knocked us so we want to pressure higher up the pitch tonight.
“We’re really excited about the game tonight. Florence last night was absolutely rocking. How often do you get to play in a game like this against a Serie A team? First things first we want the boys to go out there and work their hardest.”
Jambos on tourpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
Hearts fans have been out enjoying Florence, one of Europe's most beautiful cities.
A bit of pizza, pasta, beer, and bikes apparently. It's what European football is all about for the punters, right?
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSImage caption, Former Hearts player and manager Gary Locke is among the travelling fans
The statspublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
- Fiorentina's 3-0 win at Tynecastle last week is one of only two victories in their latest 12 games.
- Wins away to RFS and Motherwell are Hearts' only victories in their last eight outings - they've lost five of those eight.
- Hearts have lost on their two previous visits to Italy - 4-0 away to Inter Milan in the 1961 Fairs Cup second round after a 1-0 home defeat, and 3-0 in Bologna after a 3-1 home win in the Uefa Cup second round in 1990.
- Hearts have won two of their three away games in European group stages - beating Basel after losing to Feyenoord in the Uefa Cup in 2004 and defeating RFS 2-0 in this season's Conference League.
Stage is set...published at 17:23 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
The Stadio Artemio Franchi is looking magnificent.
Image source, SNSPostpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
Derek Ferguson
Former Hearts midfielder on SportsoundQuote MessageThis is a game where everyone thinks Hearts are going to get a bit of a doing, and the Hearts players need to use that. That should act as motivation to them to go and show they're better than the previous result
What happened last time?published at 17:21 British Summer Time 13 October 2022
Fiorentina v Hearts (17:45)
Hearts were well beaten on their own patch by Fiorentina last week.
The 3-0 loss induced some criticism from fans, who felt their side were too timid.
Rolando Mandragora scored after four minutes and it didn't get much better from then on, including a red card for Lewis Neilson.
Will Hearts put up more of a fight tonight?