Rangers and Celtic to carry out UEFA command before European ties this week

Celtic and Rangers will carry out a ‘moment of silence’ prior to their respective clashes across Europe over the course of this week.

Bundesliga side RB Leipzig will pose a sizeable threat to Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops midweek when they come to Parkhead. After a 0-0 draw at Atalanta last time out, the 7-1 pasting by Borussia Dortmund is behind Celtic and they are looking for similar heights to those produced in a 5-1 thumping of Slovan Bratislava.

Rangers will be in action later this week. The mood is lifted somewhat after a Premier Sports Cup semi-final win over Motherwell - now meeting Celtic in the showpiece next month - ahead of their match with Olympiacos.

Ahead of the games in Europe for all clubs this midweek, UEFA have instructed sides to hold the silence in a mark of respect for the victims of fatal flooding in Valencia, Spain, last week.

In terms of Scottish clubs in Europe who will be carrying out the silence, Celtic host RB Leipzig on Tuesday night in the Champions League group phase. Rangers travel to Greece to face off against Olympiacos on Thursday night in the Europa League. That leaves Hearts as the third and final Scottish club in Europe over the course of this week, playing Heidenheim in the Conference League.

A short statement from European football's governing body reads: "UEFA will hold a moment of silence at all UEFA club competition matches this week in memory of the victims of the deadly floods in Valencia and all those impacted in the region and beyond."