Motherwell and Hibernian both progressed in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers this week, and BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound had 40 minutes of reaction ready for the morning after.

The episode, part of the Scottish Football Podcast series, aired on 30 July 2026 and is available on BBC Sounds for 29 days. Presenter David Currie was joined by Tom English, Scott Allan, and Rory Loy to pick over what two Scottish clubs moving forward in Europe means for the season ahead.

Here is the backdrop. The Conference League is UEFA's third-tier club competition — below the Champions League and the Europa League — and Scottish sides enter it through the qualifying rounds, which run across the summer. Both Motherwell and Hibernian came through their second qualifying round ties, with the second legs falling between 28 and 30 July.

Motherwell's path took them to the Faroe Islands. Drawn against Havnar Bóltfelag — better known as HB Tórshavn — they won the first leg 2-0 at home, with goals from Moormann and Fadinger, then travelled to Tórshavn for the return on 27 July. Motherwell confirmed their progression, and attention now turns to the third qualifying round, scheduled for 6 August and 13 August. The draw, held on 20 July, paired Motherwell's potential opponents before the second leg was even played, a quirk of UEFA's calendar that clubs simply have to plan around.

Hibernian faced KF Malisheva in their second qualifying round tie, with the first leg on 23 July and the home leg at Easter Road on 28 July, kick-off 8pm. Hibs confirmed their place in the next round, where they will face either NK Bravo of Slovenia or KF Shkëndija of North Macedonia — two clubs from football's smaller nations who are nonetheless awkward opponents at this stage of the season, when sharpness is still being built.

This is Hibernian's second straight season in European competition, having secured their place back in May. Motherwell, too, are relishing the continental adventure, with the club documenting their Faroese trip on their official website throughout last week.

For both clubs, the third qualifying round dates are tight: first legs on 6 August, second legs on 13 August. Progress there, and the play-off round awaits — the final hurdle before the Conference League group stage proper.

What makes this stand out is the simple fact that two Scottish clubs are still involved at this point in the calendar. European qualifiers in July and early August are often a grind — short summer break, early-season legs, unfamiliar opponents on surfaces and in conditions far from the norm. Motherwell travelling to Tórshavn, with its harbour wind and modest stadium, is exactly the kind of fixture that can humble a side not fully up to speed.

The Sportsound panel had plenty to chew on, then. Forty minutes of reaction, four voices, and two Scottish clubs still alive in Europe as August approaches.

The episode is available now on BBC Sounds.