The start of the new football season is still a little while away, but FC Utrecht and AZ will already be in the pot on Wednesday for the draw for the European qualifying rounds. Who could they face? An overview.
FC Utrecht finished fourth in the Eredivisie last season, good for a place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. The first European participation in six years will most likely immediately face a tough opponent.
Trainer Ron Jans’ team can be linked to Anderlecht, SC Braga and FC Midtjylland, among others. The Swiss FC Lugano is also a possibility. The four other possible opponents come from the first qualifying round, which will be decided on July 17.
FC Utrecht will play the first match in the second qualifying round on July 24, with the return a week later. With a win in the two-parter, the main tournament is still a long way off for the Domstedelingen. They still have to survive two preliminary rounds.
44 possible opponents for AZ
It is difficult to say in advance which team AZ will draw in the second qualifying round of the Conference League, the third European club tournament. The Alkmaar team, winner of the play-offs for European football last season, can be linked to no fewer than 44 clubs on Wednesday.
AZ also starts its European adventure on July 24. The return is a week later. Like FC Utrecht, AZ must survive three rounds to reach the main tournament. Trainer Maarten Martens’ team reached the eighth finals of the Europa League last season.
Possible opponents AZ
Havnar Bóltfelag (Fae), FK Sarajevo (Bos), Aris Limassol (Cyp), Hammarby IF (Swe), AIK (Swe), Drogheda United (Ire), KA (Ice), Dungannon Swifts (N-Ire), Hibernians FC (Mal), Varazdin (Cro), Radnicki (Ser), Novi Pazar (Ser), MSK Zilina (Slo), Polissya Zhytomyr (Ukr), Oleksandriya (Ukr), Gyor (Hon), Universitatea Cluj (Roe), Zira (Aze), Araz-Naxçivan (Aze), Cherno More (Bul), Arda (Bul), Zimbru Chișinau (Mol), Banga (Lit), UNA Strassen (Lux), Spaeri (Geo), thirteen winners from the first qualifying round of the Conference League and six losers from the first qualifying round of the Europa League.