UEFA Champions League 2017/18

[Lineker]

Quote

First qualifying round draw
Víkingur (FRO) v Trepça '89 (KOS)
Hibernians (MLT) v FCI Tallinn (EST) 
Alashkert (ARM) v FC Santa Coloma (AND)
The New Saints (WAL) v Europa (GIB)
Linfield (NIR) v La Fiorita (SMR)

Second qualifying round

Group 1
APOEL (CYP) v Dudelange (LUX) 
Žalgiris (LTU) v Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)
Qarabağ (AZE) v Samtredia (GEO)
Partizan (SRB) v Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) 
Hibernians (MLT) or FCI Tallinn (EST) v Salzburg (AUT)

Group 2
Sheriff (MDA) v Kukës (ALB)
Astana (KAZ)  v Spartaks Jūrmala (LVA)
BATE Borisov (BLR) v Alashkert (ARM) or FC Santa Coloma (AND)
Žilina (SVK) v København (DEN) 
Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) v Budapest Honvéd (HUN) 
Rijeka (CRO) v The New Saints (WAL) or Europa (GIB)

Group 3
Malmö (SWE) v Vardar (MKD) 
Zrinjski (BIH) v Maribor (SVN) 
Dundalk (IRL) v Rosenborg (NOR)
FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) v Víkingur (FRO) or Trepça '89 (KOS)
Linfield (NIR) or La Fiorita (SMR) v Celtic (SCO)
IFK Mariehamn (FIN) v Legia Warszawa (POL)

[Adam]

Why have you bolded the team from Gibraltar but not Celtic or TNS!? Outrageous!

#NotMyRock

[Lineker]

Because I can't multi-task.

The Scottish champions Celtic will play Northern Ireland’s Linfield or La Fiorita of San Marino in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

Brendan Rodgers’ side, who reached the group stages last season, will begin their competitive season when the tie takes place over two legs on 11 or 12 July and 18 or 19 July.

Their opponents will become clear in the first week of July after Linfield and La Florita have played each other in the first qualifying round

With Celtic drawn away for the first leg, the possibility of them playing in Belfast on 12 July, a key date in the marching calendar, is potentially problematic for security services given past sectarian tensions.

It remains to be seen how any issues could be resolved.

Elsewhere the draw, made at the headquarters of European governing body Uefa in Nyon, Dundalk were handed a tie against Rosenborg of Norway.

Like Linfield, Welsh side The New Saints must also enter at the first qualifying round stage. They will play Europa of Gibraltar and will then face HNK Rijeka of Croatia if they get through.

[Naitch]

Forza La Fiorita!

[Twist]

I'm actually oddly hoping, and looking forward to Celtic against Linfield.

[Bigal]

If Linfield get through - and I think they will - Celtic have to come to Belfast on the biggest day of Protestant marching season. It's going to be a nightmare to police.

 

Nice payday though.

[TCO]

Linfield vs Celtic in Belfast on the 12th of July? The police will earn their pay that day. 

[Twist]

9 minutes ago, TCO said:

Linfield vs Celtic in Belfast on the 12th of July? The police will earn their pay that day. 

I suspect they'll swap home and away ties.

[Lineker]

I think they have. At the very least the date of the game will be changed.

 

UEFA have decreed that Salzburg and Leipzig can both take part in the competition this coming season as Red Bull are now technically no longer the owners of Salzburg. 

[Lineker]

Celtic will not take up their ticket allocation for next month’s possible Champions League qualifier at Linfield.

Uefa confirmed the first-leg tie in Belfast will take place on Friday 14 July should the Northern Irish champions make it past the San Marino club La Fiorita.

The original dates would have taken Celtic to Belfast at the height of the marching season on 11 or 12 July. That sparked fears of trouble among the club’s supporters and Linfield’s loyalist fans.

After talks with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, it has been decided to move the match to 14 July, with a 5pm kick-off. But Celtic have decided the potential for disorder is still too big a risk and will not invite their travelling support to attend.

Celtic said: “Following security concerns raised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Celtic has taken part in discussions with Linfield and the PSNI over recent days. While there can be an option to reverse the fixtures if both clubs agree, during discussions Linfield made it clear that they did not wish to reverse the tie and they wanted to play their home leg first.

“In addition, as is often the case in football, Celtic’s football management team wished to play our away leg first so that we could benefit from the advantage of playing the second leg at home in front of our supporters at Celtic Park for this crucial European tie.

“Following the discussions, it was agreed among the clubs and PSNI and has now been confirmed with Uefa that, should Linfield progress to the second qualifying round, Celtic’s Uefa Champions League match against Linfield will take place at Windsor Park on Friday, 14 July, with a 5pm kick-off.

“No tickets will be available for Celtic supporters. The safety and security of all Celtic supporters travelling and attending matches is of paramount importance to the club.

“Should La Fiorita of San Marino qualify for the next round, the first leg match would take place on 11 or 12 July.

“Regardless of opposition, Celtic’s home leg of this qualifying round will take place at Celtic Park on Wednesday, 19 July.”

[DFF]

BBC Sport Wales are live streaming TNS v FC Europa currently: 

 

 

EDIT: Ooooo.... I didn't know you could live stream directly here! The things you learn.... 

[Adam]

I come into the thread to see the FC Europa keeper receiving the magic spray on his foot!

[MDK]

Couple of naughty tackles in the last few minutes. 

[Adam]

Is it still live? I just came into the thread and immediately saw a goal flying in for FC Europa. Bizarre timing if so.

[DFF]

Yep, 8 mins to go. 

Well done Europa FC! 

[Lineker]

 

[Adam]

Nice v Ajax in the same round as a potential tie between Spartaks Jurmala and Mariehamn seems somewhat disproportionate.

[Kaney]

Celtic beat Linfield 2-0. The Linfield fans repeatedly threw coins and bottles at Leigh Griffiths when he went to take a corner. Griffiths shows the referee and gets booked.

[Colly]

A bottle of Buckfast. Tremendous.

[Lineker]

They weren't dancing in the streets of Total Network Solutions last night - Rijeka knocked them out.