UCL: Celtic set for European struggle

As Liverpool, Arsenal, Celtic and Rangers prepare for their Uefa Champions League third round qualifiers this week, it is reasonable to expect three of the British clubs to win through to the group stage in a fortnight's time. The writing could be on the wall, though, for the Scottish champions.

Celtic's confidence will have improved after managing a 4-1 win against Falkirk at the weekend but that victory flattered what could have been another hiccup in the Bhoys' title defence. Gordon Strachan's men fell a goal behind after just five minutes of Saturday's match and only a Kenneth Milne own goal got them back in the match on the half hour before three late goals and Milne's sending off did for the Bairns.

The Bhoys were held to a goalless draw in their opening match of the season against Kilmarnock and they will need to improve upon their stuttering displays to date if they are to find their way past a Spartak Moscow side in full throttle atop the Russian standings. Spartak are already two thirds of the way through their season and are five points clear in the Premier-Liga after four wins from five unbeaten matches.

They may have been unlucky to lose to eventual winners AC Milan in extra-time of their Round of 16 second leg at the San Siro last week but in-form Spartak have the form, momentum and fitness to overcome Celtic in the home leg in Moscow.

Arsenal and Liverpool should both make light work of their respective fixtures against Sparta Prague and Toulouse. The Gunners made heavy weather of their win against Fulham at the weekend but they showed great resilience to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and boast a 100 percent record against the Czech outfit.

The Londoners won't find it easy to break down a new-look defence that has yet to concede a goal in two matches and they will need to show more ruthlessness in front of goal but Arsène Wenger's young side have had an impressive pre-season, winning against Inter Milan, Lazio, PSG and Ajax and have enough character to earn a fifth win out of five against Michal Bilek's side.

Liverpool drew a considerably shorter straw when they were pitted against Toulouse and the French side served notice of the threat that they pose by beating six-time champions Lyon at the weekend. Johan Elmander scored the only goal of the game and is becoming a scorer of some repute across the channel.

However, it is worth pointing out that Lyon had been reduced to ten men, while Toulouse were undone when losing 3-1 to Valenciennes the week before. The early afternoon kick-off might help them in the first leg at home but they have defensive concerns and will certainly find it too hard to make any headway over the two legs.

Verdict: 2pts Spartak Moscow to beat Celtic @ 10/11 (Sporting Odds); 1pt Liverpool to beat Toulouse @ 5/6 (Sporting Odds); 2pts Arsenal to beat Sparta Prague @ 5/6 (general); 1pt treble Spartak, Liverpool and Arsenal to win @ 6/1 (Bet365).