UEFA Europa League 2015/16

[Lineker]

The UEFA Europa League first and second qualifying round draws have opened the 2015/16 season in Nyon with 102 clubs learning their fate in the first selections – the largest draw in the competition's history. Fifteen more, including former champions IFK Göteborg, were involved in the draw for the second round, making it 117 teams in total who are aiming to make it into the hat for the third qualifying round draw on 17 July. The road to St. Jakob-Park begins...

First qualifying round draw

Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL) v NK Koper (SVN)

Newtown AFC (WAL) v Valletta FC (MLT)

Glenavon FC (NIR) v FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR)

NSÍ Runavík (FRO) v Linfield FC (NIR)

FK Atlantas Klaipėda (LTU) v PFC Beroe Stara Zagora (BUL)

FK Spartaks Jūrmala (LVA) v FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)

FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)

Cork City FC (IRL) v KR Reykjavík (ISL)

University College Dublin AFC (IRL)* v F91 Dudelange (LUX)

FC Sheriff (MDA) v Odds BK (NOR)

FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Qäbälä FK (AZE)

FC Differdange 03 (LUX) v Bala Town FC (WAL)

Brøndby IF (DEN) v AC Juvenes/Dogana (SMR)

Debreceni VSC (HUN) v FK Sutjeska (MNE)

FK Crvena zvezda (SRB) v FC Kairat Almaty (KAZ)

FC Aktobe (KAZ) v Nõmme Kalju FC (EST)

Go Ahead Eagles (NED)* v Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)

NK Domžale (SVN) v FK Čukarički (SRB)

FK Kukësi (ALB) v FC Torpedo Zhodino (BLR)

KF Renova (MNE) v FC Dacia Chisinau (MDA)

KF Shkëndija (MKD) v Aberdeen FC (SCO)

MTK Budapest (HUN) v FK Vojvodina (SRB)

FC Ordabasy Shymkent (KAZ) v Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISL)

FC Flora Tallinn (EST) v FK Rabotnicki (MKD)

FC Dinamo Batumi (GEO) v AC Omonia (CYP)

FK Trakai (LTU) v HB Tórshavn (FRO)

Glentoran FC (NIR) v MŠK Žilina (SVK)

Alashkert FC (ARM) v St. Johnstone FC (SCO)

FK Olimpic Sarajevo (BIH) v FC Spartak Trnava (SVK)

Víkingur (FRO) v Rosenborg BK (NOR)

Skonto FC (LVA) v St. Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)

Balzan FC (MLT) v FK Željezničar (BIH)

UE Sant Julià (AND) v Randers FC (DEN)

FK Kruoja Pakruojis (LTU) v Jagiellonia Białystok (POL)

KF Laçi (ALB) v İnter Bakı PİK (AZE)

FK Partizani (ALB) v Strømsgodset IF (NOR)

FK Jelgava (LVA) v PFC Litex Lovech (BUL)

FC Lusitans (AND) v West Ham United FC (ENG)*

SJK Seinäjoki (FIN) v FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL)

FC Lahti (FIN) v IF Elfsborg (SWE)

JK Sillamäe Kalev (EST) v HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)

FC Saxan (MDA) v Apollon Limassol FC (CYP)

FC Shirak (ARM) v HŠK Zrinjski (BIH)

VPS Vaasa (FIN) v AIK Solna (SWE)

FK Mladost Podgorica (MNE) v Neftçi PFK (AZE)

NK Celje (SVN) v WKS Śląsk Wrocław (POL)

SP La Fiorita (SMR) v FC Vaduz (LIE)

Birkirkara FC (MLT) v Ulisses FC (ARM)

Airbus UK Broughton FC (WAL) v NK Lokomotiva Zagreb (CRO)

FC Botoşani (ROU) v Tskhinvali (GEO)

Europa FC (GIB) v ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)

*Respect Fair Play entrants

Draw key facts

• With 102 clubs involved, the first qualifying round was the largest UEFA Europa League draw ever.

• Teams in first qualifying round making European debut: Alashkert FC, Balzan FC, FC Botoșani, FC Saxan, FK Olimpic Sarajevo, FK Spartaks Jūrmala, FK Trakai, SJK Seinäjoki, Tskhinval

• Two teams play in their domestic second division: Go Ahead Eagles and University College Dublin FC.

Second qualifying round draw

FK Kukësi (ALB)/FC Torpedo Zhodino (BLR) v FK Mladost Podgorica (MNE)/Neftçi PFK (AZE)

FK Atlantas Klaipėda (LTU)/PFC Beroe Stara Zagora (BUL) v Brøndby IF (DEN)/AC Juvenes/Dogana (SMR)

FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX)/Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL) v FC Sheriff (MDA)/Odds BK (NOR)

Airbus UK Broughton FC (WAL)/NK Lokomotiva Zagreb (CRO) v PAOK FC (GRE)

Cork City FC (IRL)/KR Reykjavík (ISL) v Víkingur (FRO)/Rosenborg BK (NOR)

Hapoel Beer Sheva FC (ISR) v FC Thun (SUI)

Europa FC (GIB)/ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) v University College Dublin AFC (IRL)*/F91 Dudelange (LUX)

VPS Vaasa (FIN)/AIK Solna (SWE) v FC Shirak (ARM)/HŠK Zrinjski (BIH)

FK Crvena zvezda (SRB)/FC Kairat Almaty (KAZ) v Alashkert FC (ARM)/St. Johnstone FC (SCO)

Go Ahead Eagles (NED)*/Ferencvárosi TC (HUN) v Balzan FC (MLT)/FK Željezničar (BIH)

Legia Warszawa (POL) v FC Botoşani (ROU)/Tskhinvali (GEO)

MTK Budapest (HUN)/FK Vojvodina (SRB) v FK Spartaks Jūrmala (LVA)/FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)

SP La Fiorita (SMR)/FC Vaduz (LIE) v FC Aktobe (KAZ)/Nõmme Kalju FC (EST)

KF Renova (MNE)/FC Dacia Chisinau (MDA) v Glentoran FC (NIR)/MŠK Žilina (SVK)

FK Kruoja Pakruojis (LTU)/Jagiellonia Białystok (POL) v FC Dinamo Batumi (GEO)/AC Omonia (CYP)

FK Jelgava (LVA)/PFC Litex Lovech (BUL) v FC Flora Tallinn (EST)/FK Rabotnicki (MKD)

FK Mladá Boleslav (CZE) v FK Partizani (ALB)/Strømsgodset IF (NOR)

SJK Seinäjoki (FIN)/FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) v KF Laçi (ALB)/İnter Bakı PİK (AZE)

NK Domžale (SVN)/FK Čukarički (SRB) v FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)/Qäbälä FK (AZE)

PFC Cherno More Varna (BUL) v FC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (SCO) v FC Astra Giurgiu (ROU)

Glenavon FC (NIR)/FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR) v Wolfsberger AC (AUT)

HNK Rijeka (CRO) v KF Shkëndija (MKD)/Aberdeen FC (SCO)

FK Olimpic Sarajevo (BIH)/FC Spartak Trnava (SVK) v NSÍ Runavík (FRO)/Linfield FC (NIR)

Trabzonspor AŞ (TUR) v FC Differdange 03 (LUX)/Bala Town FC (WAL)

FC Lusitans (AND)/West Ham United FC (ENG)* v Birkirkara FC (MLT)/Ulisses FC (ARM)

FC København (DEN) v Newtown AFC (WAL)/Valletta FC (MLT)

R. Charleroi SC (BEL) v FC Ordabasy Shymkent (KAZ)/Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR)

FC Saxan (MDA)/Apollon Limassol FC (CYP) v FK Trakai (LTU)/HB Tórshavn (FRO)

NK Celje (SVN)/WKS Śląsk Wrocław (POL) v IFK Göteborg (SWE)

UE Sant Julià (AND)/Randers FC (DEN) v FC Lahti (FIN)/IF Elfsborg (SWE)

Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL)/NK Koper (SVN) v JK Sillamäe Kalev (EST)/HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)

Skonto FC (LVA)/St. Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v Debreceni VSC (HUN)/FK Sutjeska (MNE)

*Respect Fair Play entrants

Draw key facts

• Teams in second qualifying round making European debut: Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Wolfsberger AC

• IFK Göteborg (1987) are the only former UEFA Cup winners involved in the draw.

[METALMAN]

OH I'M LINEKER I HAVE TO START ALL THE THREADS

[LL!]

Hahaha it reads just like he'd write it!

[brenchill]

I'M A THREAD STARTER TWISTED THREAD STARTER

[Lineker]

This is brilliant.

One fan of Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles has been named on the board for one game - so he can watch a Europa League match. They face Ferencvaros in the first qualifying round but cannot take any fans to Hungary because of a Uefa ban on the Budapest side. Supporter Henk de Haan won a trip for himself and his wife at a quiz night before the draw, and the club have named him "temporary management member for international relations" so he can go. It is a first away European match for the Eagles, who were relegated at the end of the season, since visiting Celtic 50 years ago.

[The Lusophone]

Dutch sides have the best names. Go Ahead, Heracles, Excelsior...

[METALMAN]

I went to a Go Ahead Eagles game last year. They weren't very good.

[The Lusophone]

Outside of Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and Chelsea Holland who is?

[METALMAN]

I went to see them play Utrecht. They weren't even good against Utrecht.

[Lineker]

New West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic will not be in charge of the team for tonight's Europa League qualifier, with academy boss Terry Westley naming the team to face Andorra's Lusitans. Bilic replaced Sam Allardyce last month but will only be in the stands for the sell-out game at Upton Park. The 46-year-old Croat will be introduced to the crowd on the pitch. Westley has already named his team for the first leg, 40 days after the end of the 2014-15 Premier League season. Several first-team regulars including defender James Tomkins, midfielders Morgan Amalfitano and Matt Jarvis and striker Diafra Sakho will start.

The match is being streamed live on whufc.com but I have no idea whether that is for anyone or for subscribers only.

[FLiam]

It seems as though West Ham won, and West Ham's opponents were unhappy with Bilic not taking them seriously. Not bad for a first game in charge. Regardless I think he might be quite entertaining this season.

[Adam]

Bilic didn't manage them for the game, which was FC Lusitans problem. But it isn't like that, he's had the "caretaker" take charge because he's the one who's coached them in recent weeks and because half the first team squad was actually on a pre-season camp at the time anyway, since the match is taking place so early.

[DavidMarrio]

West Ham and Inverness could play each other in the next round if they both advance. 

 

Southampton will have a tough game against Chelsea reserves (Vitesse) 

[MDK]

I can see Southampton doing alright 

[Lineker]

Yeah Southampton should be fine against Vitesse.

[EddieG]

They'll have a good tune up game against Feyenoord next week.

[Lineker]

West Ham play tonight - at Maltese side Birkirkara - but they're still not important enough to be broadcast on the telly

[Lineker]

Birkirkara: Haber, Zach Muscat, Vucanac, Mazzetti Latini, Joe Zerafa, Rowen Muscat, Emerson, Camenzuli, Liliu, Fenech, Miccoli.

Subs: Atkpan, Sciberras, Agius, Plut, Daniel Zerafa, Murga, Zammit.

West Ham: Adrian, O'Brien, Collins, Tomkins, Cresswell, Amalfitano, Kouyate, Noble, Jarvis, Nolan, Zarate.

Subs: Randolph, Maiga, Poyet, Hendrie, Samuelsen, Pike.

Referee: Enea Jorgji (Albania).

[Lineker]

The Maltese are winning

[Lineker]

Extra time for West Ham it is. A potentially humiliating exit could beckon.