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We were starved of action last weekend, with just one match of action across the full matchday. The reason being that Celtic, Hearts, Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian all played their part in a midweek full of European fixtures. Now, they are back and six mouth-watering ties take place this weekend. Who will prevail?

Celtic v Falkirk

Previous Results: 4-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-1

Celtic were in the headlines for all the wrong reasons midweek, throwing away a four-goal lead against Lask in the Champions League play-off round. It means that for the second consecutive season, the Scottish Champions will be battling it out in the Europa League. It puts a real dampener on such a positive start to the season and reignites questions about the overall strategy of those in charge. They face a Falkirk side who will be relieved to have got a point on the board last time out in Motherwell. Having lost their opening game at home to St Mirren, three following ties against the Steelmen, Celtic and Rangers was looking rather intimidating. Instead, Kilmarnock remain the only side without a point. Expect a much-changed Celtic side for this clash, with several of the players looking dead on their feet after 120 gruelling minutes in Austria. Despite the frustration currently surrounding the Hoops, they will have enough to get three points.

The Prediction: Celtic 2-1 falkirk

Hearts v St Johnstone

Previous Results: 1-0, 2-1, 2-1, 2-1, 2-1

Hearts pulled off one of the greatest Scottish football comebacks on the European stage on Wednesday night. 1-0 down to Rapid Vienna and with a player sent off, the Jambos refused to buckle. Pierre Landry Kaboré equalised in the 79th minute to take the tie to extra time. Hearts were resolute in defence and dangerous on the counter, and in the 100th minute Calvin Miller put the Edinburgh side into the lead. Just when it seemed they had done the impossible, Nenad Cvetkovic equalised for the hosts. It seemed like it was the same old story for Scottish sides in Europe. However, having shot first in the penalty shootout, Hearts led 4-2. All they needed to do was save one of Rapid Vienna’s last two penalties or score one. Yusuf Demir would send Beau Reus the wrong way. When Osin McEntee then missed his penalty, it seemed like it was going to be one of those days. However, former Celtic winger Marco Tilio stepped up and misfired. The away end erupted into scenes of joy as Vouter Vrancken’s men secured a place in the UEFA Conference League. Just how much that victory will have taken out of them remains to be seen. They welcome a St Johnstone side who have settled nicely into life back in the top flight. One win and one loss, they will be looking to cause a shock at Tynecastle this week. However, I fancy Hearts to ride off the feel-good factor of midweek and reinstate their ambitions as title challengers.

The Prediction: Hearts 2-0 St Johnstone

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Kilmarnock v Dundee United

Previous Results : 2-1, 2-0, 1-1, 1-1, 3-0

It might still be August, but this match already feels very important for both managers’ futures. The bottom two face off in Ayrshire, and defeat here would really compound an awful start to the season. Kilmarnock have conceded nine goals in their opening two league games and have looked uncomfortable at carrying out the more expansive instructions asked of them. They did, however, secure a late win against local rivals Ayr in the Premier Sports Cup, thereby booking a place in the quarter-final’s. Dundee United, on the other hand, come off the back of a 2-0 derby defeat against Dundee. The Tangerines were once again wasteful in front of goal and all at sea defensively; a worrying pattern that Jim Goodwin will look to stem. It’s a really tough one to call and ultimately I wouldn’t be surprised if neither walks away satisfied.

The Prediction: Kilmarnock 2-2 Dundee United

Aberdeen v Rangers

Previous Results: 2-2, 0-4, 0-2, 0-2, 1-4

The game of the weekend. As if there wasn’t enough spice to this historic rivalry, Derek McIness returns to Pittodrie as Rangers manager, with his future on the line. That’s because his Rangers tenure so far has been nothing short of disastrous. Taking one point from the opening two games and failing to make the Conference League having started in the Europa League qualifiers, serious questions are already being asked of the 55-year-old. It doesn’t get any easier at the weekend. They face a motivated Aberdeen side who have won their opening two home games this season. In beating Hearts, they have already beaten a title contender; can they repeat this feat on Sunday? I genuinely believe they can. With Kevin Nesbit finding his goalscoring touch again, this will be a very dangerous tie for the Glasgow side.

The Prediction: Aberdeen 2-1 Rangers

Dundee v Hibernian

Previous Results: 4-1, 0-4, 1-2, 0-2, 3-3

Hibs come off some fresh European heartbreak, as they saw their dream of Conference League football slip away at the end for the second consecutive season. They must now dust themselves off on their trip to Dundee. It has to be said, Stephen Pressley has done a wonderful job since taking over from Tony Docherty at the dawn of last season. One year into his reign, he has built a dangerous side who will be a tough place to visit for any team this season. And this will be no different for a potentially leggy Hibernian side, with Dundee keeping up their excellent start to the season.

The Prediction: Dundee 2-0 Hibernian

St Mirren v Motherwell

St Mirren shocked Scottish football this week with the signing of Liverpool’s Calvin Ramsey on a one-year loan deal. With two wins from two, it’s just the type of move that the Buddies would have wished for in a bid to build on the perfect start. They face a Motherwell side who have travelled back from Freiburg after a 4-1 routing. With home advantage behind them and freshness on their side, they will keep up their 100% start to the season.

The Prediction: St Mirren 1-0 Motherwell