Scottish summer malaise continues but some room for optimism

What the report says

Scottish clubs had a mixed week in European qualifying, according to BBC Sport Football, with supporters and former Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan reacting to a run that still underlined concerns about the state of the game north of the border. The piece followed earlier disappointment in international football and noted that the summer’s European campaign has so far produced a combination of setbacks and some encouraging results.

Hearts suffered the heaviest blow, falling 6-1 away to Benfica in the first leg of their tie. Head coach Wouter Vrancken pointed to a poor first half, while some supporters said the scoreline was harsh but still saw signs of improvement after the break. Rangers also made a difficult start, losing 2-1 away to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Poland in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier. New manager Derek McInnes said the display reminded him of last season’s problems, and fans voiced frustration at familiar defensive and creative shortcomings.

There was better news for Hibernian and Motherwell. Hibs built a 2-1 lead over Shkendija to take into the second leg in North Macedonia, although some supporters felt the performance was uneven. Motherwell earned a 1-1 draw away to HJK Helsinki, keeping their unbeaten start to the season intact.

The overall picture leaves Hearts and Rangers facing difficult second legs, while Hibs and Motherwell have created at least some optimism for Scottish clubs in Europe.