UEFA Champions League Qualifying Rounds 2017/18

[HajdukSplit]

The draws for the first and second round qualifying were conducted today in what is the final season where the 'Platini format' will be used for CL qualifying, so it might be the last chance for the champions of the leagues ranked outside the top 10 to qualify for this competition. Here are the results of the draw

FIRST ROUND (June 27/28 & July 4/5)
Vikingur (FAR) vs. Trepca 89 (KOS)
Hibernians (MLT) vs. FCI Tallinn (EST)
Alashkert (ARM) vs. FC Santa Coloma (AND)
The New Saints (WAL) vs. Europa FC (GIB)
Linfield (NIR) vs. La Fiorita (SMR)

Trepca will be the first side from Kosovo to compete in a UEFA club competition, other than that with all respect to these clubs they won't be in Europe for long

SECOND ROUND (July 11/12 & July 18/19)
APOEL Nicosia (CYP) vs. F91 Dudelange (LUX)
Zalgiris Vilnius (LTU) vs. Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)
Qarabag (AZE) vs. Samtredia (GEO)
Partizan Belgrade (SRB) vs. Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)
Hibernians/FCI Tallinn vs. Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) vs. Kukesi (ALB)
Astana (KAZ) vs. Spartaks Jurmala (LVA)
BATE Borisov (BLR) vs. Alashkert/FC Santa Coloma
Zilina (SVK) vs. FC Copenhagen (DEN)
Hapoel Beer Sheva (ISR) vs. Honved Budapest (HUN)
Rijeka (CRO) vs. The New Saints/Europa FC
Malmo (SWE) vs. Vardar (MKD)
Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) vs. Maribor (SVN)
Dundalk (IRL) vs. Rosenborg (NOR)
FH Hafnarfjordur (ISL) vs. Vikingur/Trepca 89
Linfield/La Fiorita vs. Celtic (SCO)
IFK Mariehamn (FIN) vs. Legia Warsaw (POL)

So Celtic once again draw a side from Northern Ireland (assuming they beat the champs of San Marino), they faced Cliftonville a few years back. Also there are two ex-YU ties, Zrinjski-Maribor is a repeat from a few years back and there was some crowd trouble in that. The toughest unseeded team on paper seems to be Zilina, but they drew a strong side in FC Copenhagen

In the later stages of the competition here are the clubs who will enter...

THIRD ROUND (champions): Olympiakos (GRE), Slavia Prague (CZE), Viitorul Constanta (ROU)
THIRD ROUND (league route): Dynamo Kiev (UKR), Ajax (NED), Viktoria Plzen (CZE), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Club Brugge (BEL), Steaua Bucharest (ROU), Young Boys (SUI), Nice (FRA), Istanbul BB (TUR), AEK Athens (GRE)

PLAYOFF ROUND (league route): Sevilla (ESP), Napoli (ITA), Liverpool (ENG), Sporting CP (POR), Hoffenheim (GER)

A total of 10 teams will qualify for the group stage of the Champions League; five from the champions route and five from the league route

Click to read more...

 

[ecemleafs]

Lol. Potentially celtic v Linfield in Belfast on the 11th or 12th. Orange marching days the 12th...

 

[ScottishCanuck]

Linfield fans are perhaps the scummiest of the scum, so I can't see this going without incident. 12th of July as well.

 

[Ceremony]

On ye go, explain to the good people of HFBoards why Celtic can't play Linfield in Linfield on the 12th of July.

 

[ScottishCanuck]

On ye go, explain to the good people of HFBoards why Celtic can't play Linfield in Linfield on the 12th of July.

I don't know Ceremony. You're obsessed with everything Celtic, so why don't you inform us?

Try not to be as bitter as you usually are at the mere mention of the world "Celtic".

 

[Ceremony]

I mean the blame is at least 75% on the home team in this case. Please don't think I'm wholly biased against Celtic in this instance, even given their travelling fans' fantastic reputation of behaviour at matches home and abroad.

 

[ScottishCanuck]

I'm only winding you up

I had the misfortune of sitting in front of "The Bhoys" for a season so I'm well aware of the unsavoury element in our support. They were actually kicked out of the GB for constantly misbehaving but still manage to get a hold of away tickets, even after the infamous effigy incident.

Linfield are like an extreme version of Sevco though. Add to that the "festivities" of the 12th July, which really belong in previous centuries, and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

[Deficient Mode]

UEFA confirm that they will allow both RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg to compete in the CL next year in conflict with their integrity rules preventing multiple teams with the same owner to enter the competition. lol.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Should Linfield progress, it has been announced the match with Celtic has been pushed back to Friday July 14. Also, Celtic will not bring any fans to the match

 

[HajdukSplit]

Hard to call any of the 1st round results a huge upset but Europa FC from Gibraltar beat TNS in Wales 2:1 and put themselves in a good position to advance. Trepca lost to Vikingur 2:1 but they become the first side from Kosovo to score a goal in Europe

 

[DoyleG]

Linfield left it late, but got the 1-0.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Vikingur, Hibernians, Alashket, TNS and Linfield advance to the next round, none of these were really upsets. TNS needed extra time to beat Europa who were down to 9 men in the second half

 

[HajdukSplit]

Qarabag - Samtredia 5:0
Partizan - Buducnost 2:0
Hibernians - Red Bull Salzburg 0:3
Rijeka - TNS 2:0

These ties are pretty much done...most of the games are tomorrow with Linfield-Celtic on Friday

 

[HajdukSplit]

Spartaks Jurmala - Astana 0:1
APOEL - F91 Dudelange 1:0
Sheriff Tiraspol - Kukesi 1:0
Hapoel Beer Sheva - Honved 2:1
Malmo - Vardar 1:1
Zrinjski Mostar - Maribor 1:2
BATE Borisov - Alashkert 1:1
IFK Mariehamn - Legia Warsaw 0:3
Zalgiris Vilnius - Ludogorets Razgrad 2:1
Zilina - FC Copenhagen 1:3
Dundalk - Rosenborg 1:1
FH Hafnarfjordur - Vikingur 1:1

The most impressive away wins come from Legia Warsaw and FC Copenhagen, Copehnagen was losing in Zilina when short after a sending off (2nd yellow was for diving too apparently ) for the Slovakians saw Pavlovic score a second half hattrick

Impressive away results for Alashkert and Vardar, both getting a 1:1 draw against consistent European campaigners. Heartbreak for Zrinjksi, they missed a penalty, were up a man yet still conceded a late minute winner to Maribor.

Another upset was Zalgiris scoring two late goals to beat Ludogorets, however the Bulgarian champs have an away goal from the tie

 

[HajdukSplit]

Tomorrow is the draw for the 3rd qualifying round, which means the 'non-champions' enter. It is important to note that in the champions route UEFA will separate the seeded/unseeded teams into two groups but they usually don't release this list until a few hours before the draw. The results in parenthesis are the first leg results, so for example if Zalgiris beats Ludogorets in two legs they will take Ludogorets' seeded position

CHAMPIONS ROUTE

[U]Seeded                                                     Unseeded[/U]
Olympiakos (GRE)                                     Malmo/Vardar (1-1)
Linfield/Celtic (Friday)                               Spartaks Jurmala/Astana (0-1)
Hibernians/Red Bull Salzburg (0-3)             Partizan Belgrade/Buducnost Podgorica (2-0)
Zilina/FC Copenhagen (1-3)                        Rijeka/TNS (2-0)
Zalgiris Vilnius/Ludogorets Razgrad (2-1)      Dundalk/Rosenborg (1-1)
BATE Borisov/Alashkert (1-1)                       Sheriff Tiraspol/Kukesi (1-0)
IFK Mariehamn/Legia Warsaw (0-3)               Hapoel Beer Sheva/Honved (2-1)
APOEL Nicosia/F91 Dudelange (1-0)             Slavia Prague (CZE)
Zrinjski Mostar/Maribor (1-2)                     FH Hafnarfjordur/Vikingur (1-1)
Qarabag/Samtredia (5-0)                         Viitorul Constanta (ROU)

LEAGUE ROUTE

[U]Seeded                                                Unseeded[/U]
Dynamo Kiev (UKR)                              Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Ajax (NED)                                          Young Boys (SUI)
Viktoria Plzen (CZE)                              Nice (FRA)
CSKA Moscow (RUS)                             Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR)
Club Brugge (BEL)                                AEK Athens (GRE)

 

[HajdukSplit]

Third Qualifying Round (July 25/26 & August 1/2)
League Route
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Nice (FRA) vs. Ajax (NED)
Dynamo Kiev (UKR) vs. Young Boys (SUI)
AEK Athens (GRE) vs. CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Club Brugge (BEL) vs. Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR)

Nice/Ajax is easily the tie of the round, Brugge won't be thrilled with their draw either. Istanbul have a low coefficient because they are a fairly 'new' team but have a decent squad

Champions Rout
Linfield/Celtic vs. Malmo/Vardar
Zilina/FC Copenhagen vs. Spartaks Jurmala/Astana
BATE Borisov/Alashkert vs. Dundalk/Rosenborg
IFK Mariehamn/Legia Warsaw vs. Slavia Prague
Zrinjski Mostar/Maribor vs. FH Hafnarfjordur/Vikingur
Olympiakos (GRE) vs. Partizan Belgrade/Buducnost Podgorica
Hibernian/Red Bull Salzburg vs. Rijeka/TNS
Zalgiris Vilnius/Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Sheriff Tiraspol/Kukesi
APOEL Nicosia/F91 Dudelange vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva/Honved
Qarabag/Samtredia vs. Viitorul Constanta (ROU)

Could see a rematch of Celtic-Malmo from a few years ago but Malmo didn't get a good result in the first leg. Slavia Prague I think will be ok with Legia Warsaw, the Czech side have put a lot of money into their team this summer. Red Bull must be sick of these Croatian sides but its not Dinamo anymore at least

 

[Savi]

Brugge won't be thrilled with their draw either

Oh, we're definitely not

 

[JaymzB]

Third Qualifying Round (July 25/26 & August 1/2)
League Route
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Nice (FRA) vs. Ajax (NED)
Dynamo Kiev (UKR) vs. Young Boys (SUI)
AEK Athens (GRE) vs. CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Club Brugge (BEL) vs. Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR)

Nice/Ajax is easily the tie of the round, Brugge won't be thrilled with their draw either. Istanbul have a low coefficient because they are a fairly 'new' team but have a decent squad

Champions Rout
Linfield/Celtic vs. Malmo/Vardar
Zilina/FC Copenhagen vs. Spartaks Jurmala/Astana
BATE Borisov/Alashkert vs. Dundalk/Rosenborg
IFK Mariehamn/Legia Warsaw vs. Slavia Prague
Zrinjski Mostar/Maribor vs. FH Hafnarfjordur/Vikingur
Olympiakos (GRE) vs. Partizan Belgrade/Buducnost Podgorica
Hibernian/Red Bull Salzburg vs. Rijeka/TNS
Zalgiris Vilnius/Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Sheriff Tiraspol/Kukesi
APOEL Nicosia/F91 Dudelange vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva/Honved
Qarabag/Samtredia vs. Viitorul Constanta (ROU)

Could see a rematch of Celtic-Malmo from a few years ago but Malmo didn't get a good result in the first leg. Slavia Prague I think will be ok with Legia Warsaw, the Czech side have put a lot of money into their team this summer. Red Bull must be sick of these Croatian sides but its not Dinamo anymore at least

With everything going on, I can't imagine this is going to be very easy for Ajax to go out there and play any meaningful games at the moment.

 

[YNWA14]

Not only that but to get a very tough opponent in Nice. It just gets worse for Ajax right now. Maybe they can pull through and use Nouri as a source of inspiration, though doubtful.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Nice/Ajax should be a great tie, but I can't imagine being an Ajax player right now and having to play through this.

 

[ecemleafs]

Celtic/Linfield drew Dundalk/Rosenborg

 

[Ajacied]

I don't think Ajax cares much about the season, to be honest. I know I don't. Most players are heartbroken. Appie was the teddy bear of the club.

Nice should win this rather easily.

 

[maclean]

Third Qualifying Round (July 25/26 & August 1/2)
League Route
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Nice (FRA) vs. Ajax (NED)
Dynamo Kiev (UKR) vs. Young Boys (SUI)
AEK Athens (GRE) vs. CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Club Brugge (BEL) vs. Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR)

Nice/Ajax is easily the tie of the round, Brugge won't be thrilled with their draw either. Istanbul have a low coefficient because they are a fairly 'new' team but have a decent squad

Champions Rout
Linfield/Celtic vs. Malmo/Vardar
Zilina/FC Copenhagen vs. Spartaks Jurmala/Astana
BATE Borisov/Alashkert vs. Dundalk/Rosenborg
IFK Mariehamn/Legia Warsaw vs. Slavia Prague
Zrinjski Mostar/Maribor vs. FH Hafnarfjordur/Vikingur
Olympiakos (GRE) vs. Partizan Belgrade/Buducnost Podgorica
Hibernian/Red Bull Salzburg vs. Rijeka/TNS
Zalgiris Vilnius/Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Sheriff Tiraspol/Kukesi
APOEL Nicosia/F91 Dudelange vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva/Honved
Qarabag/Samtredia vs. Viitorul Constanta (ROU)

Could see a rematch of Celtic-Malmo from a few years ago but Malmo didn't get a good result in the first leg. Slavia Prague I think will be ok with Legia Warsaw, the Czech side have put a lot of money into their team this summer. Red Bull must be sick of these Croatian sides but its not Dinamo anymore at least

I don't think this is right. Slavia is playing the winner of the Borisov tie, for example

 

[maclean]

per the UEFA site:

League route

FCSB (ROU) v Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
Nice (FRA) v Ajax (NED)
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Young Boys (SUI)
AEK Athens (GRE) v CSKA Moskva (RUS)
Club Brugge (BEL) v Ä°stanbul BaÅŸakÅŸehir (TUR)

Champions route

Group 1
Slavia Praha (CZE) v BATE Borisov (BLR) or Alashkert (ARM)
Spartaks JÅ«rmala (LVA) or Astana (KAZ) v IFK Mariehamn (FIN) or Legia Warszawa (POL)
Zrinjski (BIH) or Maribor (SVN) v FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) or VÃ*kingur (FRO)
Žilina (SVK) or København (DEN) v Malmö (SWE) or Vardar (MKD)
Linfield (NIR) or Celtic (SCO) v Dundalk (IRL) or Rosenborg (NOR)

Group 2
Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) or Honvéd (HUN) v Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU) or Ludogorets (BUL)
Viitorul (ROU) v APOEL (CYP) or Dudelange (LUX)
Hibernians (MLT) or Salzburg (AUT) v Rijeka (CRO) or TNS (WAL)
Qarabağ (AZE) or Samtredia (GEO) v Sheriff (MDA) or Kukësi (ALB)
Partizan (SRB) or Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v Olympiacos (GRE)

 

[HajdukSplit]

Then the UEFA graphics screen during the live draw got it wrong