UEFA Champions League 2018/19

[Lineker]

Quote

Celtic could face a rematch with Rosenborg should Brendan Rodgers' side beat Alashkert of Armenia in their opening Champions League qualifier.

The Norwegians will be favourites against Iceland's Valur in their first qualifying-round tie.

Celtic defeated Rosenborg 1-0 on aggregate in last season's third qualifying round.

Alashkert will host the first leg against Celtic on 10 or 11 July, with the return in Glasgow on 18 July.

The Scottish champions, seeking a third successive appearance in the group stage, will be at home for the first leg of the second round of qualifying should they progress.

Celtic face an extra hurdle this season as they compete for one of four places available to qualifiers that are league winners.

With 26 teams (up from 22) going directly into the group stage, they must now overcome four two-legged ties, although they will be seeded each time.

If Celtic lose at any stage of the qualifiers or the final play-off round, they will drop into the next Europa League round.

Alashkert, who won their domestic title by six points, knocked St Johnstone out of Europa League qualifying in 2015, going through on away goals after a 2-1 defeat in Perth.

In the past two seasons, they have been knocked out in the second qualifying round of Europe's premier competition, losing to Dinamo Tbilisi in 2016 and BATE Borisov in the last campaign.

Their head coach is Varuzhan Sukiasyan, the former Armenia national boss.

Second qualifying round ties will be played on 24-25 July and 31 July-1 August.

The third qualifying round draw will take place on 23 July and the play-off round draw will be on 6 August.

First qualifying round draw (matches 10/11 & 17/18 July)
Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) v Sheriff (MDA)
Shkëndija (MKD) v The New Saints (WAL)
Sūduva (LTU) v APOEL (CYP)
Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) v Qarabağ (AZE)
F91 Dudelange (LUX) v Videoton (HUN)

Winners of the preliminary round v Malmö (SWE)
HJK Helsinki (FIN) v Víkingur (FRO)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v Crusaders (NIR)
Cork City (IRL) v Legia Warszawa (POL)
Valur Reykjavík (ISL) v Rosenborg (NOR)

Kukës (ALB) v Valletta (MLT)
Flora Tallinn (EST) v Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)
Spartaks Jūrmala (LVA) v Crvena zvezda (SRB)
Alashkert (ARM) v Celtic (SCO)
Spartak Trnava (SVK) v Zrinjski (BIH)
Astana (KAZ) v Sutjeska (MNE)

Seeded sides in bold.

Second qualifying round draw (matches 24/25 July & 31 July/1 August)

Champions Path

Astana (KAZ) / Sutjeska (MNE) v Midtjylland (DEN)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) / Crusaders (NIR) v F91 Dudelange (LUX) / Videoton (HUN)
Kukës (ALB) / Valletta (MLT) v Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) / Qarabağ (AZE)
CFR Cluj (ROU) v Winners of the preliminary round / Malmö (SWE)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Flora Tallinn (EST) / Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)

Spartaks Jūrmala (LVA) / Crvena zvezda (SRB) v Sūduva (LTU) / APOEL (CYP)
BATE Borisov (BLR) v HJK Helsinki (FIN) / Víkingur (FRO)
Shkëndija (MKD) / The New Saints (WAL) v Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) / Sheriff (MDA)
Cork City (IRL) / Legia Warszawa (POL) v Spartak Trnava (SVK) / Zrinjski (BIH)
Alashkert (ARM) / Celtic (SCO) v Valur Reykjavík (ISL) / Rosenborg (NOR)

Seeded sides in bold.

League Path

PAOK (GRE) v Basel (SUI)
Ajax (NED) v Sturm Graz (AUT)

Seeded sides in bold.

[MDK]

Bit unfair that Celtic have to play while all of their best players are away at the World Cup.

[Lineker]

Hey @Spainanite I'm sure you're feeling awfully left out with the World Cup so good luck to Celtic today I guess?

[Kaney]

On 19/06/2018 at 17:12, PolaMDK said:

Bit unfair that Celtic have to play while all of their best players are away at the World Cup.

I don't know what the joke here is? Celtic had 4 players at the world cup

In fact one of them could end up with world cup winners medal if Belgium win.

43 minutes ago, Switzerlineker said:

Hey @Spainanite I'm sure you're feeling awfully left out with the World Cup so good luck to Celtic today I guess?

I feel plenty involved until people get arsey and forcefully eject me from the conversation but thanks!

[MDK]

3 minutes ago, Spainanite said:

I don't know what the joke here is? Celtic had 4 players at the world cup 

Its unfair that teams have to start the season so early especially a team like Celtic that actually have international players. Sporting Club Arstokza probably don't have any players at the WC.

[Kaney]

I apologise, it never occurred to me that you were making a serious post. This is weird.

[MDK]

24 minutes ago, Spainanite said:

I apologise, it never occurred to me that you were making a serious post. This is weird.

lolol Scottish fitba

Better?

[Baddar]

Celtic 3-0 up. Piece of piss. 

Good luck to TNS tonight. They're away at the Macedonian champions.

[Nelson]

14 hours ago, Colombaddar said:

Celtic 3-0 up. Piece of piss. 

Good luck to TNS tonight. They're away at the Macedonian champions.

Unfortunately TNS went down 5-0.

[Baddar]

I did see. Same guy scored 4 as well.

[Baddar]

On 11/07/2018 at 09:08, Nelson said:

Unfortunately TNS went down 5-0.

TNS won the 2nd leg 4-0 last night. 😕

[Nelson]

52 minutes ago, Baddar said:

TNS won the 2nd leg 4-0 last night. 😕

Damn, great effort!
I think they go down to the Europa League 2nd qualifying round now.

[Lineker]

Rosenberg up next for Celtic. 

[DavidMarrio]

 

[Baddar]

Can't say he didn't get the ball.

[MDK]

Nothing wrong with that.

[Malenko]

I've seen worse dropkicks.

[Lineker]

Third qualifying round draw: 12:00CET, 23 July, Nyon (matches 7/8 & 14 August)

Champions path

Celtic (SCO)/Rosenborg (NOR) v AEK Athens (GRE)
Salzburg (AUT) v Shkëndija (MKD)/Sheriff (MDA)
Crvena zvezda (SRB)/Sūduva (LTU) v Legia Warszawa (POL)/Spartak Trnava (SVK)
Kukës (ALB)/Qarabağ (AZE) v BATE Borisov (BLR)/HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Astana (KAZ)/Midtjylland (DEN) v Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)/Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)
CFR Cluj (ROU)/Malmö (SWE) v Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)/Vidi (HUN)

Seeded teams in bold.

League path

Standard Liège (BEL) v Ajax (NED)/Sturm Graz (AUT)
Benfica (POR) v Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Slavia Praha (CZE) v Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
PAOK (GRE)/Basel (SUI) v Spartak Moskva (RUS)

Seeded teams in bold.

[FLiam]

Which English team is having to qualify this season? Is it Spurs?

[Lineker]

Think this is the first season where all top-4 sides automatically make the group stage now.