Why Hearts won't receive a bye into Europa League group stage

Hearts' hopes of receiving a bye straight into the Europa League group stage have been scuppered courtesy of Atalanta's fourth-placed finish in Serie A. After the Italian outfit beat Bayer Leverkusen to win Europe's second tier competition on Wednesday, Steven Naismith's side were eyeing an easier path into the competition. Had Atalanta finished fifth - and Borussia Dortmund won the Champions League on Saturday - a place in the group stage was Hearts'.