Scots in Europe this past week

The following Scots saw action this week in Europe:

Champions League: For Celtic against Barcelona
Steven McManus (DF)
Gary Caldwell (DF)
Paul Caddis (DF) – Played 61 minutes
Mark Wilson (DF) – Played 29 minutes
Paul Hartley (MF) – Played 65 minutes
Barry Robson (MF)

Man of the Match: Robson, with his lovely goal and a generally decent run of play. The four defenders fared decently, considering the team they were lined up against, but Caldwell in particular looked shaky. The aging Scotland backline is helped by young defenders Caddis and Wilson getting some European playing time.

UEFA Cup: For Rangers against Panathinaikos
Allan McGregor (GK)
Kirk Broadfoot (DF)
David Weir (DF)
Christian Dailly (DF) – Played 24 minutes
Barry Ferguson (MF)
Chris Burke (MF) – Played 21 minutes
Charlie Adam (MF) – Played 66 minutes
Kris Boyd (FW)
Steven Naismith (FW) – Played 24 minutes

Man of the match: McGregor, who kept Rangers alive over both legs with some brilliant saves. Was only beaten this match by a lovely strike from Ioannis Goumas. As seems to always be the case lately, it was the Rangers back line that saved them, not their attack. He gets little credit, and is unlikely to start over Craig Gordon, but in Allan McGregor, Scotland has one of the best international backup keepers in the world.

UEFA Cup: For Aberdeen against Bayern Munich
Jamie Langfield (GK)
Zander Diamond (DF)
Andrew Considine (DF)
Richard Foster (MF)
Barry Nicholson (MF)
Scott Severin (MF)
Chris Maguire (FW) – Played 28 minutes
Darren Mackie (FW) – Played 72 minutes

Man of the Match: Nicholson. To be honest, George Burley will have seen little to impress him about any of these boys in this match, though there was plenty in the first leg. Nicholson had some decent passes, and a late shot stopped only by a heroic save. He didn’t give up, and when you concede your fifth goal of the day, that in itself is impressive.