Porto 3-1 Rangers: First Half Flurry Powers Portuguese Giants Past Gers

Porto 3-1 Rangers Mora (27′)  Moura (36′)  Fernandez (41′ og)  Gassama (6′) Porto consigned Rangers to their sixth Europa League defeat of the season at the Estádio do Dragão, as Danny Rohl’s side pivots toward a looming three-horse title race. Djeidi Gassama gave the visitors an early lead courtesy of a slick team move. James Tavernier slid the ball to Findlay Curtis on the right after nipping in front of a Porto body. Gassama headed the winger’s backpost cross into the ground, and across Diogo Costa, giving Rohl’s side the advantage. After stretching their winning run to eight games on Sunday, the Gers looked full of confidence, but the hosts seized control, delivering a devastating 14-minute spell. A deserved equaliser arrived in the 27th minute, after teenage sensation Rodrigo Mora slid past Jack Butland. The Rangers goalkeeper then collided with James Tavernier in the box nine minutes later, allowing Francisco Moura to roll home. The third blow was administered on the stroke of halftime, after Emmanuel Fernandez headed into his own net from a Porto corner. Rangers’ run of five consecutive clean sheets had come to a grinding halt. Victory pushed the Portuguese side into the Europa League top eight, progressing automatically to the last 16. Rangers’ elimination was previously confirmed; Easter Road awaits the Glasgow giants on Sunday afternoon. Porto: D Costa, A Costa (Fernandez 61′) Bednarek, Kiwior, Moura, Froholdt (Rosario 68′) Varela, Mora (Veiga 81′) Gomes, Samu (Gul 68′) Pepe (Sainz 61′) Rangers: Butland, Aarons, Tavernier, Fernandez (Antman 58′) Djiga, Meghoma (Souttar 46′) Raskin, Diomande, Curtis (Moore 70′) Gassama (Miovski 58′), Chermiti (Aasgaard 70′)

Livingston to receive six figure boost after Yengi loan deal

Tete Yengi is poised to join Japanese side FC Machida Zelvia, after the West Lothian side received a six-figure loan fee for the Australian striker. He joins the J1 side on loan, and the deal includes an option to buy this summer. The side will kickstart their domestic campaign against Yokohama on February 6th. Livingston manager Davie Martindale praised the “fantastic value” of the move, “I am really excited to see Tete’s growth. I feel the player that walked in our building 2 years ago has now become a much better footballer and an even better person, and we have been a great fit for one another. “He leaves the club on a temporary loan, with all of our best wishes.” “This is a fantastic piece of business for the club, and it’s important that we try to balance the books as best we can. “As a club, we need to be progressing towards sustainability, which has proved very hard the last few years, but player trading will become a huge part of our business model moving forward.”

“I felt our performance was shocking….” – SNN Sports Fan View

Another thrilling weekend of Scottish Premiership saw Aberdeen dismantle Livingston, Hearts come back twice against Celtic, and Rangers move closer to the summit. We asked SNN viewers for their opinion on the latest round of fixtures.   Hearts 2-2 Celtic – “McInnes will take plenty of positives” “Hearts did well to dig out a result after a poor first half. To go behind twice and equalise late on through Claudio Braga shows the characteristics of a potential title-winning side. Digging in deep and having that belief to still get something out of the game. McInnes will take plenty of positives from that second half going into the Dundee United game.” Matthew – Hearts Fan   Rangers 3-0 Dundee – “We can find a way to win without being impressive” “I felt our performance was shocking; we lacked urgency and fluidity in the final third for most of the game. Dundee were smart in how they slowed the game down and frustrated us. The lift once the crowd knew Hearts and Celtic had finished 2-2. In terms of the season, it’s hard to predict because we do need another signing, but there have been quality additions, and if they settle, I think we’re well-positioned to keep pushing ahead. The aim is the title now, which is exciting.” Taylor – Rangers Fan   Aberdeen 6-2 Livingston – “Best we’ve played all season” “First time I have seen us utilise Keskinen properly – 100% helped with Mitchel Frame’s performance, we used the wings and actually played balls into the box, which benefited us massively. It’s clear [Peter Leven] is a brilliant coach, but I’d like to see someone else brought in from a different league to steady the ship” Ronnie – Aberdeen Fan   Motherwell 4-0 Kilmarnock – “Great Performance” “An excellent performance by Motherwell. The momentum was clearly set from the beginning, despite an early chopped off goal for Kilmarnock. Two fantastic finishes by Elijah Just and Maswanhise, respectively. Great performance Scott – Motherwell Fan

Scotland to face AFCON Quarter Finalists as World Cup preparations take shape

Scotland will face Côte d’Ivoire in a friendly at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Steve Clarke expects a “stern test” from the Elephants. The friendly is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st (7:30 pm kick-off), and will be the first meeting between the international sides. Scotland will travel to Merseyside three days after hosting Japan at Hampden, and with one overseas friendly to be announced, the preparations are taking shape for Clarke’s team. Speaking on the Scotland National Team website, Clarke said: “We’re pleased to confirm Côte d’Ivoire as our second opponents for the March international window, following on from Japan’s visit to Glasgow. “We wanted to face African opposition before we play Morocco in the summer, and I’m sure Côte d’Ivoire will give us a really stern test. “It will also be good to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The supporters will enjoy the opportunity to visit the new stadium.”

“The players have drawn a line under it” – McGregor reflects on chaotic season

Callum McGregor suggests that Wilfried Nancy’s decision to change “too much too soon” was a deciding factor in the Frenchman’s disastrous reign. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s table-topping clash at Tynecastle, the Celtic captain thinks the “big change” was overwhelming for the squad. “To go from a team that is super aggressive on the front foot for 10 plus years, playing a certain way and then you bring in the nuance of the league and playing in Scotland, my belief is that you get as much pressure on the ball as much as you can and try and press the game as high as you can and actually eliminates a lot of the defending that you have to do in terms of box defending. “Not to say that it can’t work, but I think everybody is well aware of the time and no pre-season and so many games, so many important games. “Really, really tough situation to come in and have a game every three days where you’re almost learning in the game, and we all know that trying to learn in this environment is probably the harshest environment that you can have.” Nancy’s 33-day tenure was defined by a League Cup Final loss to St Mirren and damaging home defeats to Rangers and Hearts. A return of just two wins from eight games is dismal for a club of Celtic’s stature; as toxicity mounted, the board moved prematurely to sack the former Columbus Crew boss. Central to his struggles was the immediate decision to scrap Celtic’s established 4-3-3 in favour of his own 3-4-3 system, a setup that interim manager Martin O’Neill has already reverted from. Reflecting on the period, Callum McGregor admitted the poor run of form had begun to take a heavy toll on the squad. “When you take away that confidence, everybody starts to struggle with that. “You have to go to the pitch and have confidence and belief in yourself and, ultimately, when you lose games, that does waver. “We’re all human beings at the end of the day, so it does affect you.” Martin O’Neill’s return has restored belief in the side. Thursday’s ten-man draw in Bologna proves his ability to galvanise the squad, and a win at Tynecastle will now put Celtic within reach of the top “There’s been so many negative stories going about this season. There actually is so much positive to look forward to, so much to play for and the players have drawn a line under it,” the 32-year-old added. “I think now for everyone externally as well, we have to draw a line under it and move forward because if we keep dwelling on it, we aren’t going to achieve what it is we want to achieve. “The players are at peace with that, and we know we’ve put ourselves in a difficult position, but still in the conversation with a huge game to come on Sunday.” Follow Hearts v Celtic on SNN Sports this Sunday, with exclusive pre and post-match coverage.

Dons Boost Goalkeeping Options with Bråtviet Signing

Aberdeen add to their options between the sticks, confirming the signing of Norwegian keeper Per Kristian Bråtviet on an 18-month deal at Pittodrie. Aberdeen have needed a keeper of late, with first-choice keeper Dimitar Mitov not having the best of times of late as well as Aberdeen backup keeper Nick Suman suffering an ankle injury this week. The 29-year-old came through the ranks at boyhood side FK Haugesund, where he spent 5 years as first-choice keeper before departing for Swedish side Djurgården, where he made 37 appearances. The 6’2 keeper then moved to Nimes in France, only spending the one season, racking up 31 appearances for the French side before joining Vålerenga’s second team during the coronavirus season, only picking up two appearances. A move to Odds was up next, failing to get going with just 13 appearances for the Norwegian outfit. The Norwegian keeper then made a move to Strømsgodset, spending two years at the club, being a key aspect of the team, making 58 appearances across two seasons, before making his move to Scotland to join Aberdeen. Having sealed the deal, new signing Per said: “It feels really good to be here”, said Per. “When Aberdeen made contact it was an easy decision for me to make. I had finished my time in Norway, and I want to do something different, and Aberdeen is such a big club it felt like a great opportunity. “I’m to get to know the league and Scottish football in general. I’ve played in a lot of countries which have given me a lot of experience, but I am excited to call Aberdeen home now.” Aberdeen Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel said: “When we learned the extent of Nick’s injury, we moved quickly to sign Per Kristian, whose contract with Strømsgodset had come to an end last month. “He is an experienced goalkeeper, having played extensively across several strong leagues and clubs, and he also has senior international experience with Norway. “He will provide real competition within the goalkeeping department as we continue to strengthen the squad.”

League Leaders, Loan Deals, and Late Winners: SPFL Matchday 23 Breakdown

After a short hiatus for the Scottish Cup, the Premiership returns this weekend. Here is what to watch for in Matchday 23. Game of the Round – Hearts v Celtic Tynecastle prepares for a massive showdown this Sunday as the league’s top two sides meet for the third time. With the title race heating up, a win for either side could provide a catalyst for the remainder of the season. Hearts have enjoyed back-to-back league victories over the Scottish champions, including an impressive away triumph in December. However, with Cammy Devlin, Beni Baningime, and captain Lawrence Shankland unavailable, injuries could pose problems for the Jambos. Manager Derek McInnes stated this week that it is not all “doom and gloom” for the leaders, with a healthy defence, and the attacking qualities of Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga, they could yet stretch their lead to nine points at the summit. Martin O’Neill will be the third Celtic manager this season to oppose Hearts, after predecessors Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy. O’Neill continued his unbeaten domestic record from his early-season interim stint, with victories over Dundee United, Falkirk, and Auchinleck Talbot. His side has also bolstered their attacking options by completing the loan signing of Czech striker Tomas Cvancara, and will fancy a crucial three points against a Hearts side whose spine has been ripped. Sunday afternoon should deliver another telling twist in this fascinating title race. Stay up to date with the game on SNN Sports with Mack Kelly.   Player to Watch – Lyall Cameron Lyall Cameron’s arrival looked to be smart business from the Rangers board. The promising midfielder had just helped Dundee survive in the Scottish Premiership, with a crucial double at McDiarmid Park. But after crashing down the Ibrox pecking order with only six appearances, the 23-year-old has made a loan switch to join Aberdeen. His latest move got off to the perfect start, with a standout performance in the Scottish Cup against Raith Rovers. After his SPFL tribunal, the midfielder will be eager to secure regular game time in the North East. With a six-match winless run, Saturday’s visit of Livingston is crucial for the Dons, as they aim to edge closer to the top six. Cameron could play a key role in inspiring Aberdeen’s inconsistent season.   Team in the Spotlight – Hibernian A 92nd-minute own goal by Miguel Chaiwa was enough to send Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline through to the Scottish Cup last 16. The late blunder knocked Hibernian out and left the travelling fans furious. After the passive performance, many supporters feel their season is already falling apart. Even though Hibs are 5th in the Scottish Premiership, the gap at the top is the real problem. Their city rivals are currently in first place, sitting 15 points clear. David Gray needs to find answers fast to save their season and continue their climb up the table. Things don’t get any easier from here. Hibs now face a tough trip to the Falkirk Stadium to take on a dangerous Bairns side. They have to bounce back from last Saturday’s disaster immediately. If they don’t get a result, pressure will continue to pile.

Fee confirmed for Cameron after tribunal escalation

An SPFL Tribunal have informed Rangers to pay around £400,000 for midfielder Lyall Cameron. The former Dundee midfielder, now on loan at Aberdeen, previously agreed a pre-contract with the Glasgow giants at the beginning of 2025. The clubs’ inability to agree on a compensation package was therefore escalated to the SPFL. Dundee confirmed that the tribunal proceedings have concluded, and outlined in a statement they were “unable to comment further due to the tribunal’s confidentiality clause”. Rangers have 14 days from Tuesday to pay the full fee.  

‘It’s costing us big, big points’ – David Martindale

A late header from Alex Gogic rescued a vital point for St Mirren against Livingston, leaving Lions manager Davie Martindale with further VAR frustrations. After a largely uneventful first half, Livingston seized the advantage ten minutes into the second period. Joshua Brenet’s right‑footed cross fell invitingly for Robbie Muirhead, who controlled with his chest before rifling a powerful left‑footed strike in off the post, giving goalkeeper Jerome Prior no chance. The goal sparked rare excitement among the home support, with Livingston having endured a winless league run stretching back to August. Muirhead’s effort looked set to move the side closer to 11th‑placed Kilmarnock. However, St Mirren struck late to deny them. Scott Tanser’s 89th‑minute corner was met by Gogic, whose glanced header found the net. Livingston claimed a foul on Brenet in the buildup, but VAR swiftly dismissed the appeals and the match ended level. Martindale expressed his frustration at full-time. “There’s a big foul on Joshua Brenet, who is marking Alex Gogic. Gogic pulls his arm. And it’s Gogic who scores. “How can that goal be given? I’m really disappointed. I need to stop talking about this, but what do I do? “It’s costing us big, big points in games. “VAR isn’t making the game better. How long have we had it now? You’re still debating penalty decisions. “I know we’ll be stuck with VAR. We need to go full-time, a bank of referees who are full-time. “I know the difference between a part-time football club and full-time football club. Surely by going to full-time from part-time is going to make us better. “For me, it’s a wee bit amateur just now.” St Mirren remain 10th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation place, while Livingston stay three points adrift at the bottom. Martindale’s side must regroup quickly as they prepare for a crucial trip to managerless Aberdeen on Saturday.

Scotland Confirm Two Friendlies for World Cup 2026 Preparation

Scotland will host Japan and Curacao at Barclays Hampden, as part of the squad’s preparation for the World Cup this summer. Hajime Moriyasu’s Japanese side is currently ranked 19th in the FIFA World Rankings, and will face the Scots on Saturday, 28th March (5 pm). They became the first country to qualify for the 2026 tournament after defeating Bahrain in their qualification campaign. Curacao became the smallest nation to qualify for the biggest stage and join Group E alongside Germany, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador. Dick Advocaat’s side will partake in the final Hampden send-off for Scotland, on Saturday, 30th May (1 pm). Scotland manager Steve Clarke was “delighted’ to confirm the news while speaking on the Scotland National Team’s website “Following our normal approach of arranging tough friendly fixtures, we were pleased to secure the visit of Japan, who are in the top 20 of FIFA’s World Rankings. “We’re also looking forward to welcoming Curacao to Glasgow, which should give us a feel for the CONCACAF federation before our game against Haiti. “It will be great to meet up with the squad for the first time since that crazy, momentous night, when they took us back to the World Cup after such a long time. “We can spend the first day reminiscing, but then it’s back to the serious business of preparing for the summer.”