Linfield get cross-border derby draw in Champions League as Larne and Cliftonville await fate
Live |
Three Irish League teams eagerly await the draws for the UEFA Champions League and Conference League as Linfield, Larne and Cliftonville will all discover their opponents on the continent this summer.
The Champions League draw begins at 1pm, with the Conference League to follow at 3pm.
Follow along on our LIVE blog below!
Today 02:13 PM
St Patrick's Athletic off to Lithuania
The League of Ireland side have been drawn against FC Hegelmann, with the first leg at Richmond Park and the return leg at the Raudondvaris Stadium.
Today 02:10 PM
BREAKING | Cliftonville will play St Joseph's in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round
The first leg will be in Gibraltar on July 10, with the second leg at Solitude on July 17.
Today 02:08 PM
BREAKING | Larne will play FK Auda in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round
Larne will be at home in the first leg on July 10, with the second leg in Latvia on July 17.
Today 02:06 PM
Draw under way
This is going to happen fast and furious here, so bear with me please!
Today 02:03 PM
Here we go!
We have the draw coming up here as we are about to discover who Larne and Cliftonville will get in the Conference League!
Just the technicals to get through first.
Today 01:45 PM
When are the matches?
The first leg will be on July 10, with the return fixture a week later on July 17.
Today 01:30 PM
How will this draw work?
In short, very differently to the Champions League draw.
Each Group is split into eight teams, four seeded and four unseeded. Each team is assigned a number within each Group - for instance, Larne are No.3 in Group 4 and Cliftonville are No.5 in Group 5.
Rather than draw each individual group, which would take a lifetime, all eight groups will be drawn at once by having eight individually numbered balls placed in a bowl and drawn two at a time to create each tie, with the team drawn first at home in the first leg.
So, for instance, if ball No.3 was drawn first followed by ball No.5, then every team assigned No.3 in each Group would play each team assigned No.5 in the same Group, with team No.3 hosting the first leg.
Hopefully that clears things up!
Today 01:15 PM
Who can Larne and Cliftonville play?
LARNE: Penybont FC (Wales), Valur (Iceland), SJK Seinäjoki (Finland), FK Auda (Latvia)
CLIFTONVILLE: Víkingur Reykjavík (Iceland), FK Partizani (Albania), Floriana FC (Malta), St Joseph's FC (Gibraltar)
Today 12:20 PM
Break time for us!
That's the Champions League draw completed with Linfield knowing their opponents - we're going to take a break until Larne and Cliftonville find out their opponents for the Conference League first qualifying round at 3pm. See you then!
Today 12:18 PM
No luck
Linfield and Shelbourne are not drawn out of the hat. So the loser of that tie will go into the second qualifying round for the Europa League.
Today 12:18 PM
Bonus draw
Due to the uneven number of teams in the competition, there is a secondary draw to determine which team that loses their tie will go into the third qualifying round for the Europa League as opposed to the second.
Today 12:17 PM
What a draw!
We knew it was a possibility but that's a massive tie for Linfield against Damien Duff's Shelbourne! A massive cross-border derby to look forward to. Is that the one that they would have wanted?
Today 12:12 PM
BREAKING | Linfield to face Shelbourne in the Champions League first qualifying round
The first leg will be at Tolka Park on July 8/9, with the return leg at Windsor Park on July 15/16.
Today 12:10 PM
Time for Group 2!
Linfield's time to shine! Will it be a local draw against Shelbourne?
Today 12:06 PM
Technical side done
Here comes the draw. We start with Group 1, with Linfield awaiting in Group 2.
No teams for us to bother ourselves with in Group 1.
Today 12:00 PM
Here we go!
The draw is just about to get under way. We do have a bit of time to kill while the draw procedure is explained but we're about to find out Linfield's opponents!
Today 11:45 AM
Linfield out to follow Larne blueprint and reach League Phase in Europe… or go even further, insists Ethan McGee
Linfield title winner Ethan McGee says they will be all guns blazing to replicate Larne's history-making success in Europe.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Today 11:30 AM
When are the matches?
The first leg will be on the 8/9 July, with the return leg a week later on the 15/16 July.
Today 11:15 AM
How will the draw work?
The Champions League draw is fairly straightforward, the balls containing the seeded teams in each pot will go into one bowl and the balls containing the unseeded teams will go into another. One ball will be drawn from each pot and that will determine which teams will meet in the first qualifying round.
So no having to work out who is in position 1 or position 2 or anything like that, it will be announced clear as day who Linfield will be facing.
As for which team will host which leg, before the two teams are revealed the two balls will be placed in a central bowl and whichever team is drawn first will host the first leg.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
31 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy: I've no regrets over Postecoglou appointment
Levy, flanked by new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham in an interview posted on the club's YouTube channel, said he did not make the 'emotionally difficult' decision to fire Postecoglou on his own. Ultimately losing 22 Premier League matches and finishing 17th cost Postecoglou his job after two years at the club. Europa League success was not enough to save Ange Postecoglou's job (Nick Potts/PA) 'I don't regret appointing Ange,' said Levy. 'In his first season we finished fifth and in the second season we were over the moon to win a trophy but we need to compete in all competitions. We felt that we needed a change. 'It was a collective decision. It wasn't my decision. We do everything together. 'Emotionally it was difficult but we believe we have made the right decision for the club.' Tottenham have appointed Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Postecoglou's successor and Levy hopes a new man with new ideas will help get the club back on track. Thomas Frank, right, is Ange Postecoglou's successor (Nigel French/PA) 'Whenever you have a new coach, it is always a fresh start. You have different ideas,' he added. 'We want to build on the success of winning a trophy last season. 'One of the things that stood out to me with Thomas — clearly highly intelligent, great communicator, super human being, plus all of the other technical aspects that are important.'
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Swansea City star leaves club with immediate effect and joins Champions League side in permanent deal
Swansea City star leaves club with immediate effect and joins Champions League side in permanent deal The striker is no longer a Swansea City player Mykola Kuharevich has left Swansea City (Image: Getty ) Swansea City striker Mykola Kuharevich has joined Slovan Bratislava for an undisclosed fee. He has signed a four-year deal with the Slovakian giants, in a move that brings the curtain down on a somewhat underwhelming spell in SA1. The 23-year-old joined the Swans from French side Troyes for nearly £2m back in 2023, but struggled to establish himself in the Championship, netting one goal in just 13 appearances for the club in his opening campaign. He was then shipped out on loan to Scottish side Hibernian last season, where he'd previously enjoyed a comparatively more fruitful spell the year before his move to south Wales. The striker racked up a total of seven goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for Hibs last term, but his chances of breaking into the first team set-up at Swansea have nevertheless looked slim. Now, he could well end up playing in the Champions League with Slovan, who recently secured their 23rd league title. Article continues below Slovan's general director Ivan Kmotrik Jr said: "We watched Mykola during his time in Scotland, where he was a guest from Swansea. "We are acquiring an interesting alternative to the point of attack in him. He has played for the youth national teams, has experience in international football. "Mykola uses his physical assets, but at the same time is a technically proficient type of striker. He can bring increased competition and expanded options to the point of attack for David Strelec, from whom he is typologically a little different. "I am very happy that our negotiations have come to a successful end, and we have signed a four-year contract with Mykola." Kuharevich himself added: "I have had the best season of my career with third place in the Scottish League. "I am happy to accept a new challenge at Slovan. Article continues below "I know that I am coming to a big club, I have seen their matches in the Champions League. "I managed to see Tehelné Pole and Bratislava, the stadium and the city are beautiful. "I want to develop my strengths, score goals and be a contribution to the team. I am excited about this new chapter and I am looking forward to what lies ahead."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Daniel Levy breaks silence on Ange Postecoglou sacking - as Tottenham chairman reveals why he appointed Thomas Frank
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has left Thomas Frank in little doubt about what he expects with a warning that one Europa League trophy is simply not enough. Levy made it clear he craves winning the Premier League and Champions League having sacked Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after leading Spurs to their first trophy for 17 years. He also expects to see a successful Spurs team, beating opponents in a fashion fit for their stylish home. 'There's no point having a wonderful stadium if you don't have a wonderful team, winning,' said Levy. 'Failure is not an option. The desire is to succeed and because it's so difficult I want to succeed even more. 'We've won a European trophy. It's not enough. It's what we haven't done that's more important. 'We need to win the league. We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the Champions League. We want to win.' Levy spoke alongside new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham on the club's in-house media channel about the pressure of the long wait for trophies and the decision to sack Postecoglou, who ended it but presided over a dreadful Premier League campaign last season, losing 22 of 38 games and finishing 17th. 'I'm very grateful to Ange,' said the Spurs chairman. 'I don't regret appointing Ange. 'In his first season we finished fifth and in our second season we were over the moon to win a trophy, but we need to compete in all competitions, and we felt that we needed a change. 'I've an excellent relationship with him. He's always going to be part of our history. Him and his family are always welcome back. 'It was a collective decision, it wasn't my decision, we do everything together. Emotionally it was difficult but we believe we've made the right decision for the club.' Venkatesham explained technical director Johan Lange had analysed more than 30 candidates for the job, delivered a short list and Brentford boss Frank emerged as 'absolutely our number one candidate' and 'an outstanding developer of young players'. On the fresh start, Levy added: 'The things that stood out to me with Thomas, he is clearly highly intelligent, great communicator, super human being, plus all the other technical aspects which are obviously really important.'
