By Graham Barnstaple
August 20 2012

Three Scottish clubs are in European play off action this week, do Celtic, Motherwell or Hearts have any chance of progression.

Celtic are first up on Tuesday night when they take on Helsinborgs of Sweden in the Champions League play off round. The Swedish Champions share a connection with their Scottish counterparts, with Henrik Larsson having played for both sides.

This game is massive for Celtic and their fans, particularly is as expected they romp home in the SPL. The club need the money from the group stages to push them forward, while the fans will want the six group games to replace the excitement of the missing Old Firm games.

This seemed to be emphasised by the fact Neil Lennon rested a number of players on Saturday who were carrying niggling injuries. They should all be available tomorrow returning the side to full strength.

The accepted logic is Celtic have a great chance of progressing but it will be difficult over the two games. For the sake of Scottish football we should all hope they do.

In the Europa League Motherwell and Hearts have a different challenge, as they take on sides from La Liga and the EPL.

Motherwell take on Levante fromSpain, not the most glamorous of Spanish sides, being the second side inValencia. They have only played seven seasons in the top flight and are making their European debut.

The Lanarkshire were left a bit short of quality against Panathanaikos of Greece in the Champions League, and I would think it will be the same in this one. They are at home first and if they can at least keep the tie alive they will be doing well.

Hearts have an English side for the second year in a row and won’t be wanting a repeat of the result and performance when they took on Tottenham Hotspur last season when they take onLiverpoolthis season.

They will be heartened by Liverpool’s defeat to WBA at the weekend, although Hearts will also be smarting from throwing away a two goal lead at home toInvernessthemselves.

It will be a massive task for either of these two to get through but once again we need to keep our fingers crossed for the sake of Scottish football.