Celtic and Hearts drawn against European heavyweights in upcoming group stages

Scottish champions Celtic dropped into the Europa League following a collapsed four-goal lead against LASK in the Champions League play-off, and their group schedule features home games versus Marseille and Ferencvaros and away trips to Benfica and Union SG, among others. Meanwhile, Hearts, after losing in earlier qualifying rounds but advancing past Rapid Vienna on penalties, will start their Conference League campaign in October with matches against Monaco at home and Trabzonspor away, plus fixtures versus Borac, Nordsjaelland, Pafos and Thun.

The Europa League format sees each of the 36 clubs playing eight games - four at home and four away - with the top eight advancing directly to the round of 16. In the Conference League, each team plays six games, three home and three away, under a similar progression system. The announced line-ups set the stage for both Scottish clubs' European journeys this season.