Potentially great news for Hearts today in Champions League qualifying.
Aston Villa have finished 4th and won the Europa League. This means there's a spare automatic Champions League spot that will go to Sporting Lisbon.
That's potentially great for Hearts because:
1.) takes Sporting Lisbon out of qualifiers, so can't face Hearts in the last two rounds
2.) gives the strongest 2 teams in UCL QR2 a bye to the next round, and so can't face Hearts until the last 2 rounds
3.) means Sturm Graz are now a seeded team and could be drawn to face Hearts (other potential opponent is Fenerbahçe)
It would take 3 upsets in qualifying, but this graphic is an example of a 'best' route to the Champions League phase that COULD happen for Hearts, albeit unlikely.
Aston Villa's victory could be handy for Hearts in Champions League qualifying, but only if they can hold on to 4th place in the Premier League on Sunday