Hearts Draw Benfica 1-1, Exit Europa League

Hearts concluded their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Benfica at Tynecastle Park. This result, however, was not enough to overturn Benfica's substantial 6-1 lead from the first leg in Lisbon, with the aggregate score finishing at 7-2 in favor of the visitors. The match saw a scoreless first half, with Hearts displaying organized defense against Benfica's advantage.

In the second half, the game opened up with both teams making substitutions. Hearts appeared to have taken the lead in the 55th minute, but VAR disallowed the goal due to a preceding foul. The deadlock was finally broken in the 76th minute by Tómas Bent Magnússon for Hearts, only for Benfica to equalize within a minute through Dodi Lukébakio.

Benfica managed the closing stages of the match effectively to confirm their progression. Hearts will now move into the Conference League playoff stage, where they are scheduled to face Rapid Vienna. Benfica, meanwhile, will proceed to face AGF Aarhus in the Europa League playoff round.