The tie will be played at Easter Road on Tuesday, 7 February, with a 19:00 GMT kick-off. Hibs defeated Molde and Nantes in the domestic champions path over two legs to set up the clash with the German giants. Colin Moffat, BBC Sport Scotland“We have to move on five or six, †said Hibs manager Lee Johnson following Saturday’s loss at Kilmarnock. The former Bristol City and Sunderland boss is already looking to the January transfer window after a sorry sequence of six defeats in seven games, but there are some serious tests to negotiate before then and just how wise is it to reveal such plans in public? Never mind how realistic that thinking might be. There is a bloated squad at Easter Road thanks to a recruitment policy that was called “scattergun†by former midfielder Michael Stewart and has been called a lot worse by many frustrated supporters.
 (Record), externalNisbet's return will be "fun to watch", says Cadden.  (Scotsman - subscription required), externalImage source, BBC SportHibs fan Tony Anderson, who features on BBC Scotland's A View from the Terrace, was confused by Lee Johnson's change of tactics midway through this season. “We were suffocating teams, doing the 4-3-3 and it was working pretty well", Anderson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "We were one-dimensional, but it was incessant. We’ve had a couple of bad results - we got beat off Dundee United and changed the shape after that. He strangely went to a 3-5-2 against St Johnstone, and in that game Hibs were comfortable before the red card, but I don’t see why he made that change. Anderson also believes that Johnson needs to start picking up wins again if he wants to stay in the job. "We had four victories on the trot, and now he looks like a manager who doesn’t know what his best team is", Anderson said.
The harsh truth is there are a lot of mediocre players on long contracts, so any moving on will not be straightforward. And can the club be trusted to sign any more wisely? Johnson spoke of “high tempo†and “turning up the dial on attacking footballâ€, while name-dropping Pep Guardiola on his summer arrival. There has not been much evidence of that, with just 18 goals scored in 16 league outings. The manager will be hoping senior players like Martin Boyle, Kevin Nisbet, Aiden McGeady and Kyle Magennis can return from injury to make a post-World Cup impact. When the action resumes after the winter break, Hibs’ fixtures are Rangers (A), Livingston (H), Celtic (H) and Hearts (A). A huge improvement is required from a team in freefall or Johnson might not be around for any wheeling and dealing in January.
“It’s been an odd one, and a bit of a rollercoaster. Going into the World Cup break, it’s been really deflating. I wasn’t convinced by the appointment of Lee Johnson, but I got on board with it, and I’m hoping it’s going to come good. It’s not great being a Hibs fan at the minute. Speaking to the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Stott added: “Lee has got us playing a style of football where we’re almost there, almost the finished article.
The fact he’s got his own son in there running the football side is disconcerting for a lot of fans. Fans would rather he showed as much conviction and determination to get things right on the pitch as he has with the matchday experience. "Listen to the Hibs winter report card. Striker Kevin Nisbet is expected to make his first Hibernian appearance in nine months in this weekend's friendly with Middlesbrough and teammate Chris Cadden says Nisbet's return is like having a new signing.
English Championship outfit Middlesbrough come to the capital on Saturday, 26 November for a 13:00 GMT kick-off, before Dean Gibson's side take on Eva Olid's Hearts in the SWPL1 the following day at 16:10. Edinburgh, who will continue to play in League 1, make the short trip to Leith on Thursday, 8 December in Hibs' final match before their Premiership season resumes at Ibrox against Rangers on the evening of Thursday, 15 December.
"We’ve just been beaten by the three worst teams in the league and now we’re going into a run of games against Rangers, Celtic, Livingston and Hearts. It’s very simple to believe Hibs could have 10 defeats from 11 - that’s sackable form by anyone’s standards.  “If he gets beaten at Tynecastle, the knives will be out. I was enjoying the football, but the form becomes inarguable. â€Broadcaster, actor and Hibs fan Grant Stott has given his thoughts on Hibs season so far.
We brought in 15 players, lots of young, foreign players. The thinking is that we get these players before they’re known, and sell them on, but we need to have the squad in place. "The midfield has barely been improved in the last two years. We signed a lot of forwards, and apart from Myko [Mykola Kukharevych], the rest leave a lot to be desired. There’s so many holes in the team despite signing so many players. The role Ian Gordon has at the club - a lot of fans are worried about that. "Stott backs up that feeling, saying: “Ron Gordon has made changes.
Scoring three in a manic 29-minute period sent the Hibs fans into bedlam. The scalp was then-Hibs boss Jack Ross' first scalp of an Old Firm side, but Celtic in the final proved a step too far. Hibernian forward Martin Boyle is "gutted" to miss the World Cup through injury but is staying on with the Australia squad in Qatar to act as "vibe manager" for his team-mates.  (Scotsman), externalFormer Hibs striker Kevin Harper has been sacked as Lochee United manager - just five days after taking charge of the Dundee club, with the junior outfit saying the appointment was made without committee ratification.
 (Scottish Sun), external Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip. Image source, BBC SportHibernian midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes, who is poised to return from injury, had an operation on his ankle last month after a tackle from manager Lee Johnson.  (Sunday Mail), external Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here. Image source, BBC SportHe was pretty good at kicking a ball around, wasn't he, Hibees? On this day in 1979, 33-year-old Northern Ireland winger George Best signed for Eddie Turnbull's Hibernian. After making a dismal start to the season - just one win in 12 - Hibs were in dire need of something, someone, who could spark some life into their season.
Hibernian - BBC Sport
We can defend well. Take the Aberdeen game a few weeks ago at Pittodrie. First half, Hibs dominated, defended well, created lots of opportunities, couldn’t score. It’s that final bit that Hibs have been failing to do - we cannot score. "Image source, SNSImage caption, Hat-trick hero Martin BoyleA lot can happen in a year... On this day in 2021, with the newly-appointed Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the stands, Hibernian defeated Rangers 3-1 at Hampden to book their spot in the League Cup final. Martin Boyle's first-half hat-trick humbled the Glasgow side, who could only net a consolation through Scott Arfield.
Hibernian - BBC SportFormer Hibernian winger Ivan Sproule believes head coach Lee Johnson can turn things around at Easter Road.  (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external Former Celtic, Hibernian, Rangers and Scotland forward Kenny Miller could return to coaching with Huddersfield Town.  (Sun), external Former Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, Hibernian and Scotland midfielder Murdo MacLeod has been allowed home after three months in hospital.  (Sun), externalImage source, BBC SportFormer Australia goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac said it felt like the Socceroos were playing with 10 men when ex-Scotland Rangers,  Dundee and Hibs striker Jason Cummings came on against France in the World Cup.
Former Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs has warned his old club they risk turning into the Watford of the Scottish game if they sack under-fire manager Lee Johnson.  (Daily Record), external Image source, BBC SportThe Scottish Premiership game between Hibs and Livingston on Christmas Eve has been moved to a 14:00 GMT kick-off. The match at Easter Road was originally scheduled for a 15:00 start, but has been brought forward after talks between the clubs and the SPFLImage source, BBC SportHibs will host a record crowd for a domestic fixture in the women's game when they face Hearts at Easter Road later this month.  (The Scotsman), external Hibernian have confirmed the date and time of their Youth League play-off against Borussia Dortmund.
Hibernian vs Middlesbrough live score, H2H and lineups