Hibs' Raphael Sallinger Prepares for Crucial European Clash

Raphael Sallinger sat among the away support at Tynecastle on Tuesday night and watched Hearts crumble on Europe’s big stage. A 2-0 home defeat to Sturm Graz, a 6-0 aggregate mauling, and the worst two-legged European scoreline in the Gorgie club’s history.

Now the Hibs goalkeeper is determined that his own club don’t become the next Scottish side to be embarrassed on the continent.

From Tynecastle spectator to Easter Road last line

Sallinger had a personal reason to be at Tynecastle. This wasn’t just a rival keeper revelling in Hearts’ misery.

“My missus actually works for Sturm Graz as a nutritionist so it was obviously clear for me to go and watch her at Tynecastle,” the Austrian explained. “She's not over in Scotland very often. She'll be at our game tomorrow as well to support me.”

He left with mixed emotions. Professionally, he had seen a city rival dismantled. Personally, he had watched his partner’s club cruise through.

“Sturm are a very good team,” he said. “Of course there were a few conversations when we knew they were playing Hearts, but only about small details, nothing special. I'm happy for them that they went through.”

Happy for Sturm. But fully aware of the warning.

Hearts walked into a European storm and never found shelter. Sallinger knows Hibs cannot afford to repeat that story when Malisheva arrive at Easter Road for the second leg of their Conference League qualifier.

Chasing down a 2-0 deficit

Hibs trail 2-0 from the first leg against the Kosovan side, a result that still stings inside the home dressing room.

Sallinger doesn’t hide from that.

“We as a group spoke about a lot of things which went wrong in that game. There are clearly things we can improve on, but we've worked very well this week,” he said.

The mood since that defeat has been one of self-examination rather than self-pity. Training has carried an edge. Players know what’s at stake: not just a place in the third round, but a sense of credibility.

“These are the moments where you can see what character is in this team and we will show that character tomorrow,” Sallinger insisted.

No talk of the opposition’s stature. No excuses about conditions or travel. Just a blunt target.

“It doesn't matter which side we're playing against. The main target is getting through to the third round of the Conference League.

“We have to make sure we win tomorrow. We don't want to look back too much on the last game. All we can do is look forward and try to change things around.”

A different kind of European night

The contrast could not be sharper. On Tuesday, Sallinger watched a Scottish side overwhelmed, the tie gone long before the final whistle. On Thursday, he will stand in goal at Easter Road, trying to script a very different European story.

He has seen what happens when a team allows doubt to creep in, when an early setback becomes a collapse. Hearts provided the cautionary tale.

Now it is Hibs’ turn to respond. Two goals down, at home, with their season’s European ambitions hanging by a thread.

Sallinger has already watched one club he cares about progress this week. The next 90 minutes will decide if he can say the same about the one he plays for.