Rangers will surely encounter stiffer resistance in Germany this week than that offered by Hearts on Saturday. The Ibrox side, due to visit Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, had a facile 3-0 win, with Rod Wallace scoring two goals and Jonatan Johansson the other. On the same day Celtic's 2-2 Draw with Dunfermline saw them drift to seven points below their rivals.

Rangers' most serious piece of bother came from their own captain Lorenzo Amoruso, who was sent off three minutes from the end for kicking out at David Weir in an act of staggering stupidity.

Celtic, who are at home to FC Zurich tomorrow, fell behind to Gerry Britton's penalty at East End Park but equalised through Henrik Larsson. They lost another goal to Hamish French before Harald Brattbakk levelled the match before half-time.

Brattbakk's miss from two yards soon after denied Celtic victory as surely as the series of outstanding saves by former Aston Villa goalkeeper Lee Butler in the second half.