FC Copenhagen should prove too strong for Hearts on Thursday evening. Jacob Neestrup’s team are in the midst of a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions. They have won their previous 4 matches and they look well placed to chalk up another success against Neil Critchley’s side.

Hearts’ 2-0 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership last Saturday was their first success across their previous 6 outings. What’s more, the Jam Tarts have come away empty-handed from each of their last 2 Europa Conference League games, losing 2-0 to both Heidenheim and Cercle Brugge.

A trip to Parken to take on an in-form FC Copenhagen side with plenty of European pedigree will represent an upgrade on Hearts’ previous challenges. Thus, the Danish giants should have enough in the locker to claim the win on Thursday evening.

Given their current lengthy unbeaten run, FC Copenhagen should be high on confidence ahead of their matchday 5 clash with Hearts. Jacob Neestrup’s side have made fast starts in a number of their recent matches, making them an appealing option to be leading at half-time during this contest.

The Danish outfit have scored inside the opening 8 minutes in 3 of their last 5 matches, finding themselves in front at the interval in 2 of those tussles. Furthermore, Copenhagen came down the tunnel at the halfway mark with a lead during their matchday 1 encounter with Jagiellonia Białystok.

As for Hearts, they trailed at half-time during their most recent Europa Conference League game away at Cercle Brugge. It’s also worth noting that Neil Critchley’s side have been behind at the break in recent Scottish Premiership games with both Aberdeen and Rangers.

A minimum of 5 corners should be within range for FC Copenhagen on Thursday evening. The Lions have averaged 5 corners per game when playing on the continent this season.

They have hit a combined total of 12 corners across their previous 2 league phase home games, covering the 5+ line on each occasion. It’s also worth pointing out that Jacob Neestrup’s side racked up 7 flag-kicks away from home against Dinamo Minsk on matchday 4.

On top of that, Copenhagen are averaging north of 5 corners per-game in the Danish top-flight this term. They will be coming up against a Hearts side that have conceded 5 or more corners in 4 of their previous 5 Scottish Premiership matches.

With FC Copenhagen fancied to rack up a fair few flag-kicks on Thursday evening, it makes sense to side with them to come out on top in the corner count. The Danish heavyweights have earned more corners than that of their opponents in 3 of their 4 Europa Conference League contests this season, including each of their two outings at their capital base.

It’s also worth noting that Copenhagen convincingly won the corner kick count 12-4 when hosting Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock during the qualification stage back in August.

As for Hearts, they failed to hit more flag-kicks than Cercle Brugge during their last Europa Conference League outing. In fact, Neil Critchley’s side have averaged just 3.17 corners per 90 in Europe this term.

Furthermore, the Jam Tarts have come up short in the corner battle in each of their 2 recent Scottish Premiership clashes with both Rangers and Celtic respectively.

FC Copenhagen look well placed to overcome a -1 handicap when they play host to Hearts on Thursday evening. The Lions look to be clicking into gear. Not only are they unbeaten in 12 matches, but they have claimed top honours in each of their last 2 outings by a 2-goal margin.

What’s more, Jacob Neestrup’s side defeated Kilmarnock 2-0 at home during the qualification stages. Thus, Copenhagen merit support to win with some room to spare against a Hearts team that are very much a work in progress under new boss Neil Critchley.

The Jam Tarts have lost by exactly 2 goals in each of their last 2 Europa Conference League outings against both Heidenheim and Cercle Brugge respectively. They have also failed to win any of their combined 6 games with the top-3 teams in this season’s Scottish Premiership so far, and that only adds to the appeal of backing Copenhagen to clear a -1 hurdle on the handicap.

Look to Mohamed Elyounoussi to get himself on the scoresheet on Thursday evening. The 30-year-old forward has been Copenhagen’s standout performer this season. Elyounoussi has scored 9 goals and provided 9 assists across his 30 appearances in all competitions this season so far.

He made the net bulge against Dinamo Minsk on matchday 4 and he could get more joy in front of goal against a Hearts side that have failed to keep a clean sheet in 3 of their opening 4 Europa Conference League assignments of the season.

The Jam Tarts have also struggled to keep the back door shut in the Scottish Premiership this term, with their backline being breached in 13 of their 16 outings thus far.

Given how many goal-heavy games FC Copenhagen have been involved in of late, siding with a goal in each half on Thursday evening makes plenty of sense. The net has bulged either side of the break in each of the hosts’ last 8 matches across all competitions.

That 8-game sample includes 2 Europa Conference League games, both of which broke the over 2.5 goal barrier. In fact, each of Copenhagen’s 4 league phase assignments thus far have produced at least 1 goal in both halves of the game.

That has also been the case in 3 of Hearts’ 4 Europa Conference League games this season, so all the ingredients appear to be in place for a repeat at Parken on Thursday evening.

While FC Copenhagen have not been accustomed to shutting out their opponents this season, Thursday night’s fixture with Hearts could represent an ideal opportunity to keep a clean sheet. Hearts have not managed to find the back of the net in each of their previous 2 Europa Conference League assignments.

Furthermore, Hearts have been unsuccessful in front of goal in each of their 2 respective visits to Celtic and Rangers in this season’s Scottish Premiership, coming up short on both occasions.

Copenhagen managed to keep Kilmarnock quiet at this venue back in August and they can follow suit against a Hearts side that have scored just 18 times across their 16 Scottish Premiership matches this season so far.