UEFA Europa League Qualifying Rounds 2019/20

[HajdukSplit]

The preliminary round draw was already made and unlike the Champions League qualifying these are two leg ties. The draw for the 1st round will be tomorrow (June 18) and the 2nd round will take place the following day (June 19). There are a total of 4 rounds to qualify for the Europa League (not counting preliminary). The participants from the 'big 5' leagues enter pretty early, already in the 2nd round

PRELIMINARY ROUND (June 27 & July 4)
Progres Niederkorn (LUX) vs. Cardiff Metropolitan University (WAL)
La Fiorita (SME) vs. Engordany (AND)
St. Julia (AND) vs. Europa (GIB)
Ballymena United (NIR) vs. NSI Runavik (FAR)
Pristina (KOS) vs. St. Joseph's (GIB)
KI Klaksivik (FAR) vs. Tre Fiori (SME)
Barry Town (WAL) vs. Cliftonville (NIR)

UEFA have created the groupings for the first round draw tomorrow, too many teams to mention so here is the direct link: UEFA Europa League first qualifying round draw

Not too many notable clubs start in the 1st round but here are some of them: Legia Warsaw, Steaua Bucharest, Glasgow Rangers

In the 2nd round teams such as Roma, Eintracht Frankfurt, Espanyol, Wolves, Strasbourg enter

Click to read more...

 

[HajdukSplit]

First round draw complete, 2nd round is tomorrow

Malmo (SWE) vs. Ballymena United/NSI
Connah's Quay Nomads (WAL) vs. Kilmarnock (SCO)
Breidablik (ISL) vs. Vaduz (LIE)
Brann (NOR) vs. Shamrock Rovers (IRL)
Vitebsk (BLR) vs. KuPS (FIN)
Ordabasy Shymkent (KAZ) vs. Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO)
St. Julia/Europa vs. Legia Warsaw (POL)
Gzira United (MLT) vs. Hajduk Split (CRO)
Radnicki Nis (SRB) vs. Flora Tallinn (EST)
CSKA Sofia (BUL) vs. OFK Titograd (MNE)
Maccabi Haifa (ISR) vs. Mura (SVN)
Debrecen (HUN) vs. Kukesi (ALB)
Jeunesse Esch (LUX) vs. Tobol (KAZ)
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. Milsami Orhei (MDA)
Cukaricki (SRB) vs. Banants (ARM)
Crusaders (NIR) vs. B36 Torshavn (FAR)
Inter Turku (FIN) vs. Brondby (DEN)
Pristina/St. Joseph's vs. Rangers (SCO)
Cork (IRL) vs. Niederkorn/Cardiff Metro University
Molde (NOR) vs. KR Reykjavik (ISL)
Levski Sofia (BUL) vs. Ruzomberok (SVK)
Akademija Pandev (MKD) vs. Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)
Zeta (MNE) vs. Fehervar (HUN)
Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR) vs. Hibernians (MLT)
Neftchi Baku (AZE) vs. Speranta (MDA)
Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) vs. Rigas (LVA)
Honved (HUN) vs. Zalgiris Vilnius (LTU)
Radnik (BIH) vs. Spartak Trnava (SVK)
Fola Esch (LUX) vs. Chikhura Sachkhere (GER)
Alashkert (ARM) vs. Makedonija Skopje (MKD)
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) vs. La Fiorita/Engordany
Siroki Brijeg (BIH) vs. Kairat Almaty (KAZ)
Kauno (LTU) vs. Apollon Limassol (CYP)
Ventpils (LVA) vs. Teuta (ALB)
Cracovia (POL) vs. Dunajska Streda (SVK)
Stjarnan (ISL) vs. Levadia Tallinn (EST)
Barry Town/Cliftonville vs. Haugesund (NOR)
Riteraiai (LTU) vs. KI/Tre Fiori
Dinamo Minsk (BLR) vs. Liepajas Metalurgs (LVA)
Norrkoping (SWE) vs. St. Patrick;s Athletic (IRL)
Aberdeen (SCO) vs. RoPS (FIN)
Domzale (SVN) vs. Balzan (MLT)
Laci (ALB) vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva (ISR)
Buducnost Podgorica (MNE) vs. Trans Narva (EST)
Sabail (AZE) vs. Craiova (ROU)
Pyunik Yerevan (ARM) vs. Shkupi (MKD)
AEK Larnaca (CYP) vs. Petroclub Hincesti (MDA)

 

[HajdukSplit]

2nd round draw was completed today, won't go through all the ties but here are who the teams from the top leagues drew

Roma vs. Debrecen/Kukesi
Wolves vs. Crusaders/B36
Radnicki Nis/Flora Tallinn vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Espanyol vs. Stjarnan/Levadia Tallinn
Strasbourg vs. Maccabi Haifa/Mura
AZ Alkmaar vs. Hacken (SWE)

Roma had to cancel their ICC Tournament this summer in the US to play this early, surely a financial hit for them too. Wolves will probably be hoping for Crusaders and a short trip. Frankfurt go from semifinals of the EL to playing likely a middling team in Serbia in July

Looking at regional rivalries (which is what I do with these early round draws ), Rangers is on pace to play Cork City. In terms of travel there is a potential match between a Kazakh-Portuguese sides, must be one of the longest possible flights within UEFA barring Iceland

 

[robertmac43]

I hope Espanyol finds their way into the group stage this coming season, I really enjoyed watching Melendo this past season.

 

[Savi]

UEFA announced today they will uphold the decision of the Belgian arbitrage court to not let KV Mechelen play in Europa this season. So Standard Liege will go straight to the group stage, FC Antwerp will go to the 3rd qualifying round, and AA Gent will start in the 2nd qualifying round next week against FC Viitorul from Romania.

1st qualifying round was concluded tonight and most ties have seen logical results, still a couple of surprises though; Kilmarnock, who finished 3rd behind Celtic and Rangers last year, went out against Connah's Quay of Wales,
and Hajduk Split were eliminated at home against FC Gzira United (Malta) after winning the first leg 2-0 in Malta. Also, Spartak Trnava are currently going to penalties against Bosnian club FK Bijeljina. Trnava made the group stage last year. And two teams from Luxembourg and a team from the Faroe Islands qualified for the next round as well.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Hajduk Split have had some embarrassing results in the last 10-15 years when it comes to Europe but this tops it, worse than Shelbourne because they blew a 3:0 aggregate lead at home essentially to a side from Malta ffs. The players and board were nearly attacked when the game finished and it's going to be a circus in Split next few weeks

Here are the 2nd round fixtures to be played July 25 & August 1

Champions Path (losers of CL qualifying round ties)
Tre Penne (SMR) vs. Suduva (LTU)
Piast Gliwice (POL) vs. Riga (LVA)
Partizani Tirana (ALB) vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA)
Ararat (ARM) vs. Lincoln Red Imps (GIB)
Valur (ISL) vs. Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. Feronikeli (KOS)
Santa Coloma (AND) vs. Astana (KAZ)
HB Torshavn (FAR) vs. Linfield (NIR)
Shkendija (MKD) vs. F91 Dudelange (LUX)

Main Path
Norrkoping (SWE) vs. Liepajas Metalurgs (LVA)
Hapoel Beer Sheva (ISR) vs. Kairat Almaty (KAZ)
Arsenal Tula (RUS) vs. Neftchi Baku (AZE)
Espanyol (ESP) vs. Stjarnan (ISL)
Dunajska Streda (SVK) vs. Atromitos (GRE)
Haugesund (NOR) vs. Strum Graz (AUT)
AEK Larnaca (CYP) vs. Levski Sofia (BUL)
Legia Warsaw (POL) vs. KuPS (FIN)
FC Utrecht (NED) vs. Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)
Pyunik (ARM) vs. Jablonec (CZE)
Lechia Gdansk (POL) vs. Brondby (DEN)
Videoton (HUN) vs. Vaduz (LIE)
Gabala (AZE) vs. Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Yeni Malatyaspor (TUR) vs. Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN)
Flora Tallinn (EST) vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
Domzale (SVN) vs. Malmo (SWE)
Molde (NOR) vs. Cukaricki (SRB)
Aberdeen (SCO) vs. Chikhura Sachkhere (GEO)
Gent (BEL) vs. Viitorul Constanta (ROU)
Buducnost Podgorica (MNE) vs. Zorya Luhansk (UKR)
CSKA Sofia (BUL) vs. Osijek (CRO)
Torino (ITA) vs. Debrecen (HUN)
Luzern (SUI) vs. Klaksvik (FAR)
Rangers (SCO) vs. Progres Niederkorn (LUX)
Ventspils (LVA) vs. Gzira United (MLT)
Strasbourg (FRA) vs. Maccabi Haifa (ISR)
Mlada Boleslav (CZE) vs. Ordabasy (KAZ)
Shamrock Rovers (IRL) vs. Apollon Limassol (CYP)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) vs. Hacken (SWE)
Alashkert (ARM) vs. Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) vs. Spartak Trnava (SVK)
Wolves (ENG) vs. Crusaders (NIR)
Aris (GRE) vs. AEL Limassol (CYP)
Jeunesse Esch (LUX) vs. Vitoria Guimaraes (POR)
Honved Budapest (HUN) vs. Universitatea Craiova (ROU)
Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR) vs. Esbjerg (DEN)
Connah’s Quay Nomads (WAL) vs. Partizan Belgrade (SRB)

 

[Ceremony]

You wonder what sort of depths Scottish teams will plumb in trying to find new levels of embarrassment

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Tough draw for the Israeli sides.

 

[Savi]

Hajduk Split have had some embarrassing results in the last 10-15 years when it comes to Europe but this tops it, worse than Shelbourne because they blew a 3:0 aggregate lead at home essentially to a side from Malta ffs. The players and board were nearly attacked when the game finished and it's going to be a circus in Split next few weeks

If Rijeka can get to a group stage, why can Hajduk never do it? Is if a matter of bad ownership?

 

[HajdukSplit]

Rijeka had some money behind them when Volpi owned them and bought good players for Cro league standards (a young Kramaric being the best example) and Matjaz Kek was a good manager. Last few years they have regressed a bit in Europe and are using more young players but still successful domestically

Hajduk is a mess from top to bottom, new president every year, about 2 managers a season at, poor scouting and an underachieving youth academy. Also the fan group Torcida has too much power and they are in a war with the Croatian football federation which causes too many distractions and is basically an excuse for their poor results (HNS is generally pro-Dinamo but that’s not the main reason why Hajduk is bad, Rijeka winning a title recently shows that).

Long story short Hajduk doesn’t really have an owner in the traditional sense, the city owns majority with about 25% ownership belonging to the fans who buy memberships in the club (basically similar to the Barcelona system at a much lower scale) and they vote on the executive committee. Torcida is also very much against foreign ownership and pretty much is against anybody outside of Dalmacija (southern Croatia) being involved with the club so this structure is here to stay but results like today will build pressure on them

 

[Ivan13]

All you can do is laugh at them. They are so horribly mismanaged and in their own heads they make the Ottawa Senators look like the 70s Montreal Canadiens. They are being held hostage by a handful of thugs and let the street run their club.

 

[maclean]

Also, Spartak Trnava are currently going to penalties against Bosnian club FK Bijeljina. Trnava made the group stage last year.

The people who orchestrated last year's Trnava "miracle" got into conflict with some local entities and ended up leaving the team midway through last year, so it's not really a surprise that their level has dropped. What was a bigger deal in Slovakia was Slovan Bratislava falling to Sutjeska Nikšić (in the CL)

 

[Ceremony]

The consequences of assuming anything good can come of Scottish teams in Europe:

 

[HajdukSplit]

Craiova-Honved was heading to penalty kicks by one of the goalline refs (I guess UEFA still uses these) was hit in the head with an object from the crowd so the match is suspended. A couple of games in ET right now, notably Zrinjski-Utrecht as the Dutch side in danger of going out. Some upsets too, Pyunik from Armenia eliminated Jablonec while first time Polish champions didn't have a great Euro campaign after being eliminated by a Latvian side

 

[Savi]

Not a great week for Dutch teams with PSV going out of the CL and now Utrecht losing to Zrinjski

 

[HajdukSplit]

Utrecht are out with Hajduk reject Ivan Lendric getting the winning goal. Poor showing by Hungarian clubs with Videoton losing to Vaduz in ET

Steaua Bucharest who won the first leg away 3:0 could throw that all away, losing now 3:1 early 2nd half and down to 10 men

 

[HajdukSplit]

Third Round (August 8 & 15)
Champions Path
Sutjeska Niksic (MNE) vs. Linfield (NIR)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) vs. Suduva (LTU)
Ararat (ARM) vs. Saburtalo Tbilisi (GEO)
Riga (LVA) vs. HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) vs. TNS (WAL)
FK Sarajevo (BIH) vs. BATE Borisov (BLR)
F91 Dudelange (LUX) vs. Nomme Kalju (EST)
Astana (KAZ) vs. Valletta (MLT)
Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) vs. AIK (SWE)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. Dundalk (IRL)

League Path

Norrkoping (SWE) vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva (ISR)
Torino (ITA) vs. Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR)
Royal Antwerp (BEL) vs. Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Austria Wien (AUT) vs. Apollon Limassol (CYP)
Feyenoord (NED) vs. Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Brondby (DEN) vs. Braga (POR)
Molde (NOR) vs. Aris Thessaloniki (GRE)
Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) vs. Strasbourg (FRA)
Thun (SUI) vs. Spartak Moscow (RUS)
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. Mlada Boleslav (CZE)
Pyunik (ARM) vs. Wolves (ENG)
Midtjylland (DEN) vs. Rangers (SCO)
Mariupol (UKR) vs. AZ Alkmaar (NED)
AEK Larnaca (CYP) vs. Gent (BEL)
Legia Warsaw (POL) vs. Atromitos (GRE)
Haugesund (NOR) vs. PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Rijeka (CRO) vs. Aberdeen (SCO)
Ventspils (LVA) vs. Vitoria Guimaraes (POR)
FC Vaduz (LIE) vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
Partizan Belgrade (SRB) vs. Yeni Malatyaspor (TUR)
Malmo (SWE) vs. Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)
CSKA Sofia (BUL) vs. Zorya Luhansk (UKR)
Neftchi Baku (AZE) vs. Bnei Yehuda (ISR)
Luzern (SUI) vs. Espanyol (ESP)
Sparta Prague (CZE) vs. Trabzonspor (TUR)
Universitatea Craiova (ROU) vs. AEK Athens (GRE)


Wolves are probably “thrilled” to be going all the way to Armenia a couple days before the open of the EPL season. Three Dutch sides involved with PSV and Feyenoord getting winnable ties, you would assume AZ are favorites against Mariupol but Ukrainian sides tend to be tricky games even beyond Dynamo/Shakhtar. Frankfurt will be happy with Vaduz, close trip and a side they should beat easily. Rijeka-Aberdeen is a rematch from a few years ago where Aberdeen surprisingly won 3:0 in Rijeka which isn't each to do

 

[Maverick41]

The crowd in Frankfurt was pretty impressive last night.
48,000 vs. Tallinn is not bad. Apparently the Eintracht-fans gave the Tallinn players an ovation after the match.
By all accounts a pretty great atmosphere.

 

[Savi]

League route draw for the EL playoff round. Some very interesting potential ties with Torino/Wolves and Strasbourg/Frankfurt.
Pretty good draw for Dutch and Belgian teams. Gent, PSV and Feyenoord really should qualify (although Feyenoord lost against Trencin last year). AZ and Antwerp could meet eachother with a group stage ticket on the line.

• Torino (ITA) or Shakhtyor (BLR) v Pyunik (ARM) or Wolves (ENG)
• Universitatea Craiova (ROU) or AEK (GRE) v Sparta Praha (CZE) or Trabzonspor (TUR)
• Legia (POL) or Atromitos (GRE) v Midtjylland (DEN) or Rangers (SCO)
• Feyenoord (NED) or Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Norrköping (SWE) or H. Beer-Sheva (ISR)
• FCSB (ROU) or Mladá Boleslav (CZE) v Ventspils (LVA) or Vitória SC (POR)
• AEK Larnaca (CYP) or Gent (BEL) v Rijeka (CRO) or Aberdeen (SCO)
• Haugesund (NOR) or PSV (NED) v Austria Wien (AUT) or Apollon (CYP)
• Luzern (SUI) or Espanyol (ESP) v CSKA-Sofia (BUL) or Zorya Luhansk (UKR)
• Partizan (SRB) or Malatyaspor (TUR) v Molde (NOR) or Aris (GRE)
• Brøndby (DEN) or Braga (POR) v Thun (SUI) or Spartak Moskva (RUS)
• Malmö (SWE) or Zrinjski (BIH) v Neftçi (AZE) or Bnei Yehuda (ISR)
• L. Plovdiv (BUL) or Strasbourg (FRA) v Vaduz (LIE) or Frankfurt (GER)
• Mariupol (UKR) or AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Antwerp (BEL) or Plzeň (CZE)

 

[HajdukSplit]

There is a tie in the champions route, Ararat/Saburtalo vs. Dudelange/Nomme Kalju where one of these will make the ELGS. Dudelange made it last year remember but if Ararat or Nomme Kalju win the tie it will be the first time that a club from Armenia/Estonia has made a group stage of UEFA competition. For Georgia it would be the first time since 2004

Decent draw for Zrinjski if they can bet past Malmo, while the Swedes are favorites its not impossible. Only issue is Zrinjski have to play at a neutral venue at nearby Siroki Brijeg which is a smaller but "modern" stadium

 

[Savi]

How do you view Rijeka's chances against Aberdeen and then (probably) Gent?

 

[HajdukSplit]

Rijeka should progress past Aberdeen but I'm cautious because a few years ago a stronger Rijeka team lost 3:0 to them at home(!) and Croatian clubs and even national team tend to struggle against Scottish clubs/NT for some reason, probably due to the style because nobody in the Croatian league comes close to playing a direct/physical game. The draw against Gent (potentially) is viewed as a good one with the media going as far as saying its the best draw possible I think Gent would be slight favorites but this Rijeka team is not as strong as the past and they haven't been too convincing despite winning the first three games of the season in the league

 

[Savi]

Solid night for Belgian clubs. Gent tied AEK (the Cyprus version) 1-1 after conceding a late goal in Cyprus. Pretty low tempo game due to the immense heat. Gent should finish them off at home.

Antwerp beat Viktoria Plzen 1-0 at home in their first European game in 25 years Fantastic result and thoroughly deserved as well as they dominated most of the game and barely allowed any clear chances to Plzen. I was very unimpressed with Plzen but I expect them to come out much stronger at home next week.

Dutch teams looking good as well with Feyenoord basically through after beating Tbilisi 4-0, PSV beat Haugesund 1-0 in Norway and AZ get a scoreless draw in Ukraine against Mariupol.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Not too many problems for the teams from the bigger leagues, Wolves and Frankfurt with easy away wins, Strasbourg won in Bulgaria while Torino and Espanyol are both winning too

Impressive result for Rangers who won 4:2 in Denmark against Midtjylland, they were up by three goals, Midtjylland cut the deficit to 2:3 but Rangers scored a fourth. Trabzonspor scored twice late to get a valuable 2:2 at Sparta Prague

Some surprising results: Lithuanian champions Suduva beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv away 2:1, unfortunately for them they conceded late so it keeps MTA in the tie but they will need to win by 2 goals. Apollon is beating Austria Wien with about 20 minutes to go in Austria, not a total surprise as Wien are off to an awful start in their domestic league but Cypriot sides are usually poor outside their home grounds

 

[Eye of Ra]

Not too many problems for the teams from the bigger leagues, Wolves and Frankfurt with easy away wins, Strasbourg won in Bulgaria while Torino and Espanyol are both winning too

Impressive result for Rangers who won 4:2 in Denmark against Midtjylland, they were up by three goals, Midtjylland cut the deficit to 2:3 but Rangers scored a fourth. Trabzonspor scored twice late to get a valuable 2:2 at Sparta Prague

Some surprising results: Lithuanian champions Suduva beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv away 2:1, unfortunately for them they conceded late so it keeps MTA in the tie but they will need to win by 2 goals. Apollon is beating Austria Wien with about 20 minutes to go in Austria, not a total surprise as Wien are off to an awful start in their domestic league but Cypriot sides are usually poor outside their home grounds

there is nothing impressive with winning against midjylland. malmö ff dominated them last year.