Celtic's path to Champions League knockout round laid out as Jury predict tough Malmo assignment for Rangers

Celtic kicked off Champions League campaign off with a 5-1 mauling of Slovan Bratislava, while Rangers are in Europa League action this week

After Celtic got off to a Champions League flier, will they make the knockout rounds?

Keith Jackson: Celtic can’t get ahead of themselves. They’re likely to be stuck on three points for a while with away trips to Dortmund and Atalanta next. But if they can add to their tally in next home game against Leipzig the play-offs become a distinct possibility.

Michael Gannon: Not quite yet. It’s the perfect start and the door is open. Celtic will be thrown the odd curveball and it’s about how they deal with it. They should have the squad to get enough points to secure a spot in the play-off round.

Andy Newport: Opta boffins have worked out that nine points should be enough to make the play-offs so Celtic are already a third of the way there with seven games to go. The trips on the road might be tough but the power of Parkhead should see Celtic through.

Rangers get their Europa League campaign under way this week in Malmo – how will they get on?

Keith: They're making hard work of things and don’t travel there with any real momentum on their side. Rangers are absolutely crying out for a shot in the arm and they can only hope to find it in the south of Sweden.

Michael: It's the kind of game that might suit Rangers as there might be a bit more space to operate. Malmo are top of the Swedish league but results have been patchy and they’ve struggled in Europe. It’ll be tight but Gers can kick off with a win.

Andy: Philippe Clement is preaching patience and with good reason. His new-look side are still getting to know each other and while there are very faint signs of promise with players like Jefte and Igamane, it’s still early days. A draw would be a fantastic result.

Eight straight defeats for Hearts. Was there any real chance of Steven Naismith avoiding the sack?

Keith: It had become impossible to see how Naismith could turn this slump around. He’d have been breaking out in a cold sweat every time his mobile phone rang this week. So it made sense to act swiftly yesterday and put him out of his misery.

Michael: He will have thought so but it’s the end of the road when the supporters turn and it doesn’t look like the squad are responding. The decision is hardly a surprise.

Andy: Probably not when you consider the run of fixtures coming up. It comes down to the failure to find someone to help shoulder the scoring burden with Shankland. Whoever replaces Naismith will have the same problems to deal with.

St Johnstone are on the hunt for a new boss after binning Craig Levein – who should take over in Perth?

Keith: The stale Perth club needs a reboot and a new, contemporary approach. Ayr boss Scott Brown would be an obvious candidate but his pal Kevin Thomson is free, available, highly talented, and long overdue a big chance.

Michael: Saints should be having a look at John McGlynn. He’s worked wonders with Raith and now Falkirk and is due a shot at the top flight. He gets his teams organised, but he also likes
to play attacking football.

Andy: Brown is doing a fine job at Ayr but I suspect he’ll want a little longer in situ to bed in his managerial philosophies. Rhys McCabe is time-served at Airdrie and should be a top candidate to step up to the Premiership.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.