UEFA Champions League First And Second Qualifying Round Draw

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Match 1: Tre Fiori v Rudar Pljevlja
Match 2: FC Santa Coloma v Birkirkara

SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND

Liepajas Metalurgs V Sparta Praha
Aktobe v Olimpi Rustavi
Levadia v Debrecen
Partizan v Pyunik
Inter Baku v Lech Poznań
Dinamo Zagreb v Koper
Litex Lovech v Winners of match 1
Winners of match 2 v Zilina
Sheriff Tiraspol v Dinamo Tirana
Hapoel Tel Aviv v Zeljezničar
Omonia v Renova
Red Bull Salzburg v HB Tórshavn
BOHEMIANS v THE NEW SAINTS
BATE Borisov v FH Hafnarfjordur
AIK Solna v Jeunesse Esch
LINFIELD v Rosenborg BK
Ekranas v HJK Helsinki

The new Champions League campaign took its first steps today. The road to London starts here!

Some intriguing ties have been drawn today in Nyon, for the Irish and British sides especially. Irish Champions Bohemians will lock horns with Welsh Champions TNS, now normally I'd easily expect the LOI side to win this type of tie, but Boh's have been poor at the start of the season here and there is a slight uncertainty as to how they will deal with this tie, they have superior players and play in a superior league, but their form has been a bit off especially at the start of the season. I still expect Bohs to come out winners. I think Linfield drawing Norweigan giants Rosenborg BK, may count themselves out. I'm sure even the most optimistic of Linfield fans are skeptical they will progress after drawing one of the best sides in the round! Will be a good day out for them though.

Some of the other eye catching ties involve some sides who broke through to the group stages in recent seasons. BATE Borisov, who put up a good fight in 2008 who also drew with Juventus and Zenit in that group face FH, who are regulars at this stage in Europe, but you would expect BATE to be aiming to reach the groups again, surely that will be the incentive. Sheriff put up a good fight in recent seasons and have slowly improved int he qualifying rounds by the season, they will fancy their chances against Dinamo Tirana, who are another regular in European qualifying football. Red Bull Salzburg of Austria have come close on a couple of occasions in breaking into the group stage, they will be looking to get thereabouts this season, and their tie with HB will be a good watch, HB are another regular at this stage.