Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland in Lisbon

After a stunning 45 minutes by Benfica, there is a real threat that Hearts' record European defeat could go this evening.

It was 16 years ago when Harry Redknapp brought his star studded Tottenham Hotspur to Tynecastle and left with a 5-0 win under their belt.

Time after time, the Hearts defence has been ripped apart and, if not for goalkeeper Beau Reus, that record may already have been broken.

This is surely about damage limitation in the second half for Hearts. Especially with a crucial home game on Sunday against Dundee United.

The duality of a Hearts fan...

A bruising 45 minutes comes to an end.

It started quickly, Hearts conceded after only two minutes and, although they somewhat eventually solidified - the visitors even hitting the bar, a late penalty really put the game beyond doubt.

Another 45 minutes to come and who knows how many it might be by the final whistle.

Image source, SNS

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

Hibernian seem to be caught in the middle of trying to dominate and earn and advantage or prioritising not conceding.

It feels somewhere in the middle with chances few and far between. Owen Elding had the best effort from distance just wide, but you might have expected a bit more drive and quality.

Work to do in this first leg to gain a vital advantage.

Image source, SNS

They're at the end of the one-minute of stoppage time at Easter Road and Martin Boyle has his hands in the air feeling he should have been awarded a penalty.

The Hibs forward goes down in the box under what looks like a little shove from Arbin Zejnullai, but the referee is having none of it and that will be the last action of the half.

Benfica have the ball in the back of the net, but the flag is up.

Gianluca Prestianni skips to the byline and cuts it back to Leandro Barreiro. His shot is goalbound but flicked in by Vangelis Pavlidis, who is in an offside position.

Hearts have gotten a little lucky there.

Andy Halliday
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Sportsound

It's reminiscent of the game I played for Hearts away to Fiorentina in the Conference League.

We were 4-0 down at half-time. We got a pretty stern talk from Robbie Neilson about changes we had to make in the second half.

Hearts cannot continue the way they're playing out of possession. There can't be this many spaces in the midfield.

Superb defending from Miguel Chaiwa, who gets a foot in the way to send Fabrice Tamba's shot behind for a corner.

It's cleared behind for another Shkendija corner, which Hibs eventually get clear.

But the hosts are coming under a wee bit of pressure in these closing stages of the first half.

Gianluca Prestianni tries to scamper on to a backheel in the box and Laurent Mendy pulls him down.

It's really poor from the midfielder, who has had a not bad game up until now.

Great pressing from Owen Elding almost forces a mistake from Shkendija goalkeeper Ferat Ramani.

He manages to get it clear and the visitors win a free-kick just inside their own half, but it comes to nothing.

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland in Lisbon

Without question this has been Hearts best spell in the game. A bit concerned they may have upset Benfica however.

Image source, Getty Images

Calvin Miller has done it again, chesting a ball down on the wing and flicking it past his marker.

He then chops inside on his left and is caught - and Hearts have a free-kick. Gianluca Prestianni is booked as well.

The cross comes in... and Laurent Mendy rattles the bar and nobody there is to connect with the loose ball inside a crowded six-yard box! So close!

Occasionally, there's been some really nice play from Hearts.

This time, it's Calvin Miller who spins his man in the middle of the Hearts half. The ball is then booted long, but still. Small wins.

Shkendija look keen to play the ball quickly every time they get it, but Hibs are defending well for now.

David Gray's side have looked good in forward areas too but are yet to cause the visitors any real issues.

Another Benfica corner is floated on to the head of captain Tomas Araujo and he powers his header just wide as he looks for his own second goal.

Hearts look so vulnerable from set pieces this season.

Andy Halliday
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Sportsound

Twenty-three minutes in and I'm looking at Wouter Vrancken. What's he going to do? What's he going to change?

If this continues, I've got the fear. It could a heavy defeat - and a psychological one.

Image source, SNS

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

It was a tentative start from Hibernian, but they're starting to up the tempo and threat and the crowd are beginning to see signs that something might happen soon.

That said, one or two moments suggest Shkendija are capable of doing some damage at the other end.

Finely poised.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland in Lisbon

Nothing special about the second goal for the hosts. Just really poor defending.