2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League Qualifiers

[ScoRoss]

First qualifying round draw

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Group 1
Levadia Tallinn (EST)* vs St Joseph's (GIB)
Inter Turku (FIN) vs Puskás Akadémia (HUN)*
Dečić (MNE) vs Drita (KOS)*
Sūduva (LTU)* vs Valmiera (LVA)

Group 2
La Fiorita 1967 (SMR)* vs Birkirkara (MLT)
Mons Calpe (GIB) vs Santa Coloma (AND)*
Velež (BIH) vs Coleraine (NIR)*
Domžale (SVN)* vs Swift Hesper (LUX)

Group 3
Shkupi 1987 (MKD)* vs Llapi (KOS)
Dinamo Batumi (GEO) vs Tre Penne (SMR)*
Sfintul Gheorghe (MDA) vs Partizani (ALB)*
Maribor (SVN)* vs Urartu (ARM)

Group 4
Laçi (ALB)* vs Podgorica (MNE)
Milsami Orhei (MDA) vs FK Sarajevo (BIH)*
Noah (ARM) vs KuPS Kuopio (FIN)*
Žilina (SVK)* vs Dila Gori (GEO)

Group 5
FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL)* vs Sligo Rovers (IRL)
Paide Linnameeskond (EST) vs Śląsk Wrocław (POL)*
RFS (LVA) vs KÍ Klaksvík (FRO)*
Bala Town (WAL)* vs Larne (NIR)

Group 6
Fehérvár FC (HUN)* vs Ararat Yerevan (ARM)
Gagra (GEO) vs Sutjeska (MNE)*
Sileks (MKD) vs Petrocub-Hincesti (MDA)*
Široki Brijeg (BIH)* vs Vllaznia (ALB)

Group 7
Stjarnan (ISL)* vs Bohemians (IRL)
Glentoran (NIR) vs The New Saints (WAL)*
Sant Julià (AND) vs Gzira United FC (MLT)*
Europa (GIB)* vs Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)

Group 8
Dundalk (IRL)* vs Newtown (WAL)
Spartak Trnava (SVK)* vs Mosta (MLT)
Struga (MKD) vs Liepāja (LVA)*
Racing FC Union Lëtzebuerg (LUX) vs Breidablik (ISL)*
Honka Espoo (FIN) vs NSÍ Runavík (FRO)*

*Seeded teams

 

[ScoRoss]

Second qualifying round draw is at 13:30 CET today (12:30 BST) 

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Seeding groups
Champions Path
GROUP 1

Seeded:

Malmö (SWE) / Riga FC (LVA)
Shkëndija (MKD) / Mura (SVN)
Teuta (ALB) / Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA)
Maccabi Haifa (ISR) /Kairat Almaty (KAZ)
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) / Neftçi (AZE)

Unseeded:

UEFA Champions League preliminary round beaten finalist

GROUP 2

Seeded:

Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) / FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR)
CFR Cluj (ROU) / Borac Banja Luka (BIH)
Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU) / Linfield (NIR)
HJK Helsinki (FIN) / Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)
Fola Esch (LUX) / Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)

Unseeded:

HB Tórshavn (FRO) / Inter Club D'Escaldes (AND)

GROUP 3

Seeded:

Ferencváros TC (HUN) / UEFA Champions League preliminary round winners
Bodø/Glimt (NOR) / Legia Warszawa (POL)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) / Valur (ISL)
Flora Tallinn (EST) / Hibernians (MLT)
Connah's Quay Nomads (WAL) / Alashkert (ARM)

Unseeded:

Folgore (SMR) / FC Prishtina (KOS)

Main Path
GROUP 1

Seeded:

1 Apollon Limassol (CYP)
2 Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)
3 Čukarički (SRB)
4 FCSB (ROU)
5 Vorskla Poltava (UKR)

Unseeded:

6 FC Noah (ARM) / KuPS Kuopio (FIN)
7 Žilina (SVK) / Dila Gori (GEO)
8 Sumgait (AZE)
9 Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)
10 Arda Kardzhali (BUL)

GROUP 2

Seeded:

1 AEL Limassol (CYP)
2 Sivasspor (TUR)
3 Sochi (RUS)
4 Astana (KAZ)
5 Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)

Unseeded:

6 Gagra (GEO) / Sutjeska (MNE)
7 Široki Brijeg (BIH) / Vllaznia (ALB)
8 Keşla (AZE)
9 Aris Thessaloniki (GRE)
10 Sileks (MKD) / Petrocub-Hincesti (MDA)

GROUP 3

Seeded:

1 Partizan (SRB)
2 BATE Borisov (BLR)
3 Dundalk (IRL) / Newtown (WAL)
4 RFS (LVA) / KÍ Klaksvík (FRO)
5 Milsami Orhei (MDA) / FK Sarajevo (BIH)

Unseeded:

6 IF Elfsborg (SWE)
7 Dunajská Streda (SVK)
8 Levadia Tallinn (EST)/ St Joseph's (GIB)
9 Inter Turku (FIN) / Puskás Akadémia (HUN)
10 Dinamo Batumi (GEO) / Tre Penne (SMR)

GROUP 4

Seeded:

1 Domžale (SVN) / Swift Hesper (LUX)
2 Glentoran (NIR) / The New Saints (WAL)
3 CSKA-Sofia (BUL)
4 Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
5 Rijeka (CRO)

Unseeded:

6 Sant Julià (AND) / Gzira United (MLT)
7 Honka Espoo (FIN) /NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
8 Struga (MKD) / Liepāja (LVA)
9 Dynamo Brest (BLR)
10 Europa FC (GIB) / Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)

GROUP 5

Seeded:

1 Gent (BEL)
2 AGF Aarhus (DEN)
3 Dudelange (LUX)
4 Hibernian (SCO)
5 Santa Clara (POR)

Unseeded:

6 Shkupi (MKD) / Llapi (KOS)
7 Vålerenga (NOR)
8 Stjarnan (ISL) - Bohemians (IRL)
9 Mons Calpe (GIB) / FC Santa Coloma (AND)
10 Bala Town (WAL) / Larne (NIR)

GROUP 6

Seeded:

1 Fehérvár (HUN) / Ararat Yerevan (ARM)
2 Slovácko (CZE)
3 Universitatea Craiova (ROU)
4 Qarabağ (AZE)
5 AEK Athens (GRE)

Unseeded:

6 Velež (BIH) / Coleraine (NIR)
7 Paide Linnameeskond (EST) / Śląsk Wrocław (POL)
8 Laçi (ALB) / Podgorica (MNE)
9 Ashdod (ISR)
10 Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL)

GROUP 7

Seeded:

1 Austria Wien (AUT)
2 Osijek (CRO)
3 Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN)
4 Basel 1893 (SUI)
5 Feyenoord (NED)

Unseeded:

6 Dečić (MNE) / Drita (KOS)
7 Racing FC Union Lëtzebuerg (LUX) / Breidablik (ISL)
8 La Fiorita (SMR) / Birkirkara (MLT)
9 Sfintul Gheorghe (MDA) / Partizani (ALB)
10 Pogoń Szczecin (POL)

GROUP 8

Seeded:

1 Sūduva (LTU) / Valmiera (LVA)
2 Vaduz (LIE)
3 FC Spartak Trnava (SVK) / Mosta (MLT)
4 Molde (NOR)
5 Maribor (SVN) / Urartu (ARM)

Unseeded:

6 Hammarby (SWE)
7 Raków Czestochowa (POL)
8 Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe (ROU)
9 Servette (SUI)
10 Újpest (HUN)

GROUP 9

Seeded:

1 Hajduk Split (CRO)
2 Vojvodina (SRB)
3 Aberdeen (SCO)
4 Copenhagen (DEN)
5 Rosenborg (NOR)

Unseeded:

6 FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) / Sligo Rovers (IRL)
7 Tobol Kostanay (KAZ)
8 BK Häcken (SWE)
9 Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino (BLR)
10 Panevezys (LTU)

With any luck, Aberdeen will be drawn against the teams from Iceland or Ireland, but almost certainly will be sent to Kazachstan (again) instead. 

[ScoRoss]

 

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Second qualifying round draw

Champions path

The three teams eliminated in the UEFA Champions League preliminary round (played on 22 and 25 June) and 15 teams eliminated in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round (played on 6/7 and 13/14 July) all transfer to the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

The ten winners of the ties will advance to the third qualifying round champions path.

Teuta (ALB) / Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) vs UEFA Champions League preliminary round beaten finalist

Malmö (SWE) / Riga FC (LVA) vs Shkëndija (MKD) / Mura (SVN)

Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) / Neftçi (AZE) vs Maccabi Haifa (ISR) / Kairat Almaty (KAZ)

HJK Helsinki (FIN) / Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) vs HB Tórshavn (FRO) / Inter Club D'Escaldes (AND)

Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU) / Linfield (NIR) vs CFR Cluj (ROU) / Borac Banja Luka (BIH)

Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) / FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR) vs Fola Esch (LUX) / Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)

Folgore (SMR) / FC Prishtina (KOS) vs Flora Tallinn (EST) / Hibernians (MLT)

Ferencváros TC (HUN) / UEFA Champions League preliminary round winners vs Connah's Quay Nomads (WAL) / Alashkert (ARM)

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) / Valur (ISL) vs Bodø/Glimt (NOR) / Legia Warszawa (POL)

Main path

The 57 teams entering at this stage will be joined by the 33 first qualifying round winners on 8 and 15 July.

The winners of the 45 ties will advance to the third qualifying round main path.

FC Noah (ARM) / KuPS Kuopio (FIN) vs Vorskla Poltava (UKR)

FCSB (ROU) vs Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)

Arda Kardzhali (BUL) vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)

Apollon Limassol (CYP) vs Žilina (SVK) / Dila Gori (GEO)

Čukarički (SRB) vs Sumgait (AZE)

Gagra (GEO) / Sutjeska (MNE) vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)

Astana (KAZ) vs Aris Thessaloniki (GRE)

Sileks (MKD) / Petrocub-Hincesti (MDA) vs Sivasspor (TUR)

AEL Limassol (CYP) vs Široki Brijeg (BIH) / Vllaznia (ALB)

Sochi (RUS) vs Keşla (AZE)

Elfsborg (SWE) vs Milsami Orhei (MDA) / FK Sarajevo (BIH)

RFS (LVA) / KÍ Klaksvík (FRO) vs Inter Turku (FIN) / Puskás Akadémia (HUN)

Dinamo Batumi (GEO) / Tre Penne (SMR) vs BATE Borisov (BLR)

Partizan (SRB) vs Dunajská Streda (SVK)

Dundalk (IRL) / Newtown (WAL) vs Levadia Tallinn (EST) / St Joseph's (GIB)

Sant Julià (AND) / Gzira United (MLT) vs Rijeka (CRO)

Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) vs Dynamo Brest (BLR)

Europa FC (GIB) / Kauno Žalgiris (LTU) vs Glentoran (NIR) / The New Saints (WAL)

Domžale (SVN) / Swift Hesper (LUX) vs Honka Espoo (FIN) /NSÍ Runavík (FRO)

CSKA-Sofia (BUL) vs Struga (MKD) / Liepāja (LVA)

Shkupi (MKD) / Llapi (KOS) vs Santa Clara (POR)

Hibernian (SCO) vs Mons Calpe (GIB) / FC Santa Coloma (AND)

Bala Town (WAL) / Larne (NIR) vs AGF Aarhus (DEN)

Gent (BEL) vs Vålerenga (NOR)

Dudelange (LUX) vs Stjarnan (ISL) / Bohemians (IRL)

Velež (BIH) / Coleraine (NIR) vs AEK Athens (GRE)

Qarabağ (AZE) vs Ashdod (ISR)

Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) vs Slovácko (CZE)

Fehérvár (HUN) / Ararat Yerevan (ARM) vs Paide Linnameeskond (EST) / Śląsk Wrocław (POL)

Universitatea Craiova (ROU) vs Laçi (ALB) / Podgorica (MNE)

Dečić (MNE) / Drita (KOS) vs Feyenoord (NED)

Basel 1893 (SUI) vs Sfintul Gheorghe (MDA) / Partizani (ALB)

Pogoń Szczecin (POL) vs Osijek (CRO)

Austria Wien (AUT) vs Racing FC Union Lëtzebuerg (LUX) / Breidablik (ISL)

Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) vs La Fiorita (SMR) / Birkirkara (MLT)

Hammarby (SWE) vs Maribor (SVN) / Urartu (ARM)

Molde (NOR) vs Servette (SUI)

Újpest (HUN) vs Vaduz (LIE)

FC Spartak Trnava (SVK) / Mosta (MLT) vs Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe (ROU)

FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) / Sligo Rovers (IRL) vs Rosenborg (NOR)

Copenhagen (DEN) vs Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino (BLR)

Panevezys (LTU) vs Vojvodina (SRB)

Hajduk Split (CRO) vs Tobol Kostanay (KAZ)

Aberdeen (SCO) vs BK Häcken (SWE)

A nice trip for Hibernian to either Andorra or Gibraltar.

Aberdeen face Swedish side Hacken, who finished 3rd in the Swedish top division last season. This season they currently sit bottom of the table, whilst their manager has left for Odense in Denmark. So who knows what they'll be like by the time these games come around. They'll also be in the middle of their season at the time of the match, whereas Aberdeen would just be getting started. Far easier ties were available, but they should still be favourites for this tie.

[ScoRoss]

 

[Danny]

Surely the point of this tournament were to help prevent the stupid amount of qualifiers these competitions have?

[Devil]

At what point do Spurs come into this?

 

[Stan]

8 minutes ago, Devil said:

At what point do Spurs come into this?

 

They're in the play-off round - first games are 19th & 26th August. 

[Honey Honey]

Do UEFA pay these clubs enough money to cover their transport costs? 

[Eco]

3 minutes ago, The Premier Steve's said:

Do UEFA pay these clubs enough money to cover their transport costs? 

Kind of my thought as well. 

If clubs are in dire need financially with COVID, are the expenses for all these extra matches really helping the clubs get into the green? 

[Honey Honey]

3 minutes ago, Eco said:

Kind of my thought as well. 

If clubs are in dire need financially with COVID, are the expenses for all these extra matches really helping the clubs get into the green? 

I imagine flying 40 people across Europe is more than the match day income of the Home ties for some of these clubs. Must be some good UEFA money.

[ScoRoss]

20 hours ago, The Premier Steve's said:

Do UEFA pay these clubs enough money to cover their transport costs? 

Not near enough. They had a whole 'regionalisation' effort to try and cut down the travel costs, but with seedings, etc. It doesn't work out that way for many.

A lot of decent-sized clubs will charter planes for particularly obscure trips. Aberdeen have had quite a number of trips in Eastern Europe, and for the tie will break just about even.

 

On 09/07/2021 at 08:28, Danny said:

Surely the point of this tournament were to help prevent the stupid amount of qualifiers these competitions have?

They've just about done it for the larger nations. Having them enter the Europe Conference League at a later stage, where before the clubs would have entered the Europa League qualifying rounds. But for the rest of the countries, it's just about the same.

[ScoRoss]

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Champions Path

Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) / Maccabi Haifa (ISR) vs HB Tórshavn (FRO) / Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)

Linfield (NIR) / Borac Banja Luka (BIH) vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR) / Fola Esch (LUX)

Shamrock Rovers (IRL) vs Teuta (ALB) / Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)

Riga FC (LVA) / Shkëndija (MKD) vs Folgore (SMR) / Hibernians (MLT)

Prishtina (KOS) / Connah's Quay Nomads (WAL) vs Valur (ISL) / Bodø/Glimt (NOR)

Main path

Group 1:

Dinamo Batumi (GEO) / BATE Borisov (BLR) vs Petrocub-Hincesti (MDA) / Sivasspor (TUR)

KuPS Kuopio (FIN) / Vorskla Poltava (UKR) vs Astana (KAZ) / Aris Thessaloniki (GRE)

Sochi (RUS) / Keşla (AZE) vs Partizan (SRB) / Dunajská Streda (SVK)

Ararat Yerevan (ARM) / Śląsk Wrocław (POL) vs Arda Kardzhali (BUL) / Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)

Group 2:

Shkupi (MKD) / Santa Clara (POR) vs Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) / Birkirkara (MLT)

Újpest (HUN) / Vaduz (LIE) vs Basel (SUI) / Partizani (ALB)

Kolos Kovalivka (UKR) vs FCSB (ROU) / Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)

Elfsborg (SWE) / Milsami Orhei (MDA) vs Velež (BIH) / AEK Athens (GRE)

Group 3:

Paços de Ferreira (POR) vs Larne (NIR) / AGF Aarhus (DEN)

FC Luzern (SUI) vs Drita (KOS) / Feyenoord (NED)

RFS (LVA) / Puskás Akadémia (HUN) vs Gent (BEL) / Vålerenga (NOR)

Hibernian (SCO) / Santa Coloma (AND) vs Gżira United (MLT) / Rijeka (CRO)

Group 4:

Austria Wien (AUT) / Breidablik (ISL) vs Aberdeen (SCO) / BK Häcken (SWE)

Trabzonspor (TUR) vs Molde (NOR) / Servette (SUI)

Dudelange (LUX) / Bohemians (IRL) vs PAOK (GRE)

Kauno Žalgiris (LTU) / The New Saints (WAL) vs Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) / Dynamo Brest (BLR)

Group 5:

Sūduva (LTU) / Raków Czestochowa (POL) vs Rubin (RUS)

Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) / Slovácko (CZE) vs Copenhagen (DEN) / Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino (BLR)

Čukarički (SRB) / Sumgait (AZE) vs Hammarby (SWE) / Maribor (SVN)

Hajduk Split (CRO) / Tobol Kostanay (KAZ) vs Apollon Limassol (CYP) / Žilina (SVK)

Group 6:

CSKA-Sofia (BUL) / Liepāja (LVA) vs Pogoń Szczecin (POL) / Osijek (CRO)

Panevezys (LTU) / Vojvodina (SRB) vs LASK (AUT)

Limassol (CYP) / Vllaznia (ALB) vs Qarabağ (AZE) / Ashdod (ISR)

Spartak Trnava (SVK) / Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe (ROU) vs Sutjeska (MNE) / Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)

Group 7:

Hafnarfjördur (ISL) / Rosenborg (NOR) vs Domžale (SVN) / Honka Espoo (FIN)

Universitatea Craiova (ROU) / Laç (ALB) vs Anderlecht (BEL)

Vitesse (NED) vs Dundalk (IRL) / Levadia Tallinn (EST) 

 

[ScoRoss]

Great start for the Scottish clubs tonight. Aberdeen thumping Swedish club Hacken 5-1 and Hibs, as expected, easing to a 3-0 win as well.

Meanwhile Northern Irish Larne won 2-1 against Danish club Aarhus, and Linfield beat the Bosnian champions 4-0.

[ScoRoss]

Both Aberdeen and Hibs are through, with Aberdeen suffering a bit of a scare but ultimately comfortable.

Feyenoord are currently losing at home to Kosovo side Drita Gjilan, and are heading out as it stands.

[Stan]

Hibs equalise at home to Rijeka.

Aberdeen leading 3-2 away at Breidablik in Iceland.

[ScoRoss]

Irish side Dundalk get a draw in Holland

Meanwhile, Welsh side TNS take a lead to Czechia next week. They were leading 4-0 but have away two very late goals.

[ScoRoss]

Full stadium approved for the 2nd leg and the first football match I'll have been at since last March. It'll be good to be back!

[ScoRoss]

First game back since March last year and, whilst the performance was still lacking, was great to see another win and a great atmosphere almost all night. Need to be sharper and more clinical with chances. Just a short trip to Azerbaijan next...

Hibs were easily beaten in Croatia by Rijeka, who must be getting used to trip to Scotland recently, but St Johnstone will be in the playoffs after dropping out of the Europa League.

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Champions path
Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU) vs Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
Neftçi (AZE) vs Maccabi Haifa (ISR)
Flora Tallinn (EST) vs Shamrock Rovers (IRL)
Riga (LVA) vs Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Fola Esch (LUX) vs Kairat Almaty (KAZ)

Main path
Qarabağ (AZE) vs Aberdeen (SCO)
Basel (SUI) vs Hammarby (SWE)
Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) vs CSKA-Sofia (BUL)
Paços de Ferreira (POR) vs Tottenham (ENG)

Rennes (FRA) vs Rosenborg (NOR)
Anderlecht (BEL) vs Vitesse (NED)
LASK (AUT) vs St Johnstone (SCO)
Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ) vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)

PAOK (GRE) vs Rijeka (CRO)
KuPS Kuopio (FIN) vs Union Berlin (GER)
Feyenoord (NED) vs Elfsborg (SWE)
Raków Czestochowa (POL) vs Gent (BEL)

Sivasspor (TUR) vs Copenhagen (DEN)
Santa Clara (POR) vs Partizan (SRB)
Trabzonspor (TUR) vs Roma (ITA)
Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) vs Anorthosis Famagusta (CYP)
Jablonec (CZE) vs Žilina (SVK)

 

[Stan]

I know this is a 3rd-rate competition but there's some decent teams involved.

Roma, Feyenoord, Basel, Anderlecht, LASK, Copenhagen, PAOK, Rennes - they've all had experience in Champions League/EL recently.

 

[The Käiser]

Riga v Hibs (Maltese club) had shoddy refereeing

Hibs had a good goal disallowed 

7 minutes were added where Riga scored to extend game to extra time 

2 reds to hibs plus their coach

 

[Eco]

Union score early to take a 1-0 lead on KuPS

[Eco]

Union supporters are so brilliant. They are rocking it at the moment. 

[Eco]

Brilliant finish from Kruse, and it's 2-0

[Eco]

and quickly it's 3-0. 

Well played Union! 

[Stan]

Spurs losing.