In a much-anticipated development, the draw for the UEFA Champions League’s second qualifying round was conducted in Nyon, Switzerland on Wednesday.
Under the League Path, the first set of matches is scheduled for July 22-23, with Norwegian club Brann set to face off against Salzburg from Austria. This exciting pair-up will see Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic take on Servette from Switzerland, while Rangers from Scotland are slated to compete against Panathinaikos from Greece.
For the second leg of these encounters, which is calendared for July 29-30, Salzburg will host Brann, Servette will face Viktoria Plzen, and Panathinaikos will welcome Rangers.
Switching focus to the Champions Path, the first leg matches on July 22-23 will provide some engaging games as Levadia Tallinn from Estonia or RFS from Latvia will clash with Iberia from Georgia or Malmo from Sweden. Zalgiris of Lithuania or Hamrun Spartans of Malta will have the challenging task of going against Dynamo Kyiv from Ukraine. Additionally, the fixtures will see Pafos from Cyprus battling it out with Maccabi Tel Aviv from Israel. Vikingur from the Faeroe Islands or Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar will face powerhouse Red Star Belgrade from Serbia. Meanwhile, Noah from Armenia or Buducnost Podgorica from Montenegro are set to meet Ferencvaros from Hungary. Lech Poznan of Poland is paired with either Egnatia from Albania or Breidablik from Iceland. Copenhagen from Denmark anticipates a match against Drita from Kosovo or Differdange from Luxembourg.
The line-up further includes Croatia’s Rijeka facing Ludogorets from Bulgaria or Dinamo Minsk from Belarus. One of these dramatic clashes will feature The New Saints from Wales or Shkëndija from North Macedonia going against FCSB from Romania or Inter Club d’Escaldes from Andorra. Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia has been drawn to play either Virtus from San Marino or Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Shelbourne from Ireland or Linfield from Northern Ireland will encounter Qarabag from Azerbaijan. KuPS Kuopio from Finland or Milsami Orhei from Moldova will be matched up against Olimpija Ljubljana from Slovenia or Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan.
The second leg of the Champions Path, taking place on July 29-30, will reverse these fixtures, promising an equally captivating series of games. Teams such as Iberia or Malmo will host Levadia Tallinn or RFS. Dynamo Kyiv awaits either Zalgiris or Hamrun Spartans, and Maccabi Tel Aviv will welcome Pafos.
Further fixtures seal matchups that include Red Star Belgrade being positioned against Vikingur or Lincoln Red Imps and Ferencvaros prepared to face Noah or Buducnost Podgorica. In an expectedly thrilling series, Lech Poznan will travel to face either Egnatia or Breidablik, with Copenhagen slated to compete away against Drita or Differdange.
Emphasizing the international mix, the rest of the lineup concludes with Ludogorets or Dinamo Minsk hosting Rijeka, and FCSB or Inter Club d’Escaldes set against The New Saints or Shkëndija. Additionally, Virtus or Zrinjski Mostar will engage Slovan Bratislava, while Shelbourne or Linfield will tackle Qarabag. Olimpija Ljubljana or Kairat Almaty against KuPS Kuopio or Milsami Orhei rounds up the fixtures.
With diverse clubs from across Europe poised to showcase their skills, fans are gearing up for a thrilling display of competitive football as teams vie for the esteemed UEFA Champions League group stage.