File picture of Celtic’s manager Ronny Deila gestures to their supporters following a Scottish Premier League match.
AFP/Nyon, Switzerland
Celtic, the first British team to win the European Cup, have been paired against Icelandic side Stjarnan in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, after the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, yesterday.
The Scottish champions, who upset Inter Milan to win the tournament for the first time in 1967, will be expected to ease past the side from Garoabaer—“Garden City” in Icelandic—when they meet in a two-legged tie next month.
Ronny Deila’s men, who won the Scottish title for the fourth year running last season, welcome Stjarnan to Celtic Park for the first leg on July 14 or 15 before travelling to Reykjavik for the second leg a week later (July 21 or 22).
YouTube sensations
Stjarnan, who are featuring in the preliminary round for the first time in their history, are best known for their cult following on YouTube where their players post funny goal celebrations.
It’s less than three months until the main group stage draw (August 27), featuring Europe’s biggest clubs like 10-time winners Real Madrid, five-time champions Bayern Munich and holders Barcelona.
The winner between Celtic and Stjarnan will have to negotiate two further rounds to enter the group stage, with teams like Monaco—last year’s surprise quarter-finalists—possible opponents in the third qualifying round.
The final hurdle is the play-off round, which contains teams such as three-time winners Manchester United and two-time runners-up Valencia. Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and Serie A club Lazio are among the other possible opponents in that round.
The Bhoys failed to make the group stage last year after falling to a surprise 2-1 aggregate loss to Slovenian side NK Maribor in the play-off round.
Stjarnan have played Scottish opposition before—beating Motherwell 5-4 on aggregate in the second qualifying round of the Europa League last season.
West Ham draw Andorran minnows in Europa qualifier
Meanwhile Premier League club West Ham have been drawn against Andorran minnows FC Lusitans in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.
The East Londoners, who finished 12th in the Premier League last season, qualified via the Fair Play rule and will feature in Europe for the first time in nine years.
The Hammers’ last European campaign—in 2006/07 — ended prematurely as they were beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Italian side Palermo in the first round.
West Ham, though, do have a European trophy to their name having lifted the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1964/65 following victory over 1860 Munich in the final.
This year’s opponents Lusitans last featured on the European stage in a 2013/14 Champions League qualifier when they lost 7-3 on aggregate to EB/Streymur of the Faroe Islands.
The side featuring an array of Portuguese immigrants play in the eight-team Primera Divisio—Andorra’s top flight.
New West Ham boss Slaven Bilic’s first game in charge will be the first leg in Andorra on July 2, with the return leg a week later at the Boleyn Ground on July 9.
The Hammers will need to get through four qualifying rounds to make it into the Europa League group stages; Birkirkara of Malta or Armenia’s Ulisses will be second qualifying round opponents, should the Premier League side progress.
Over to the pitch now.
Champions League Qualifying Draw Results
Champions League qualifying draw for the 2015-16 tournament, made by UEFA:
First qualifying round (matches to be played June 30/July 1 and July 7/8)
Lincoln FC (GIB) v FC Santa Coloma (AND)
Crusaders FC (NIR) v FC Levadia Tallinn (EST)
FC Pyunik (ARM) v SS Folgore (SMR)
B36 Torshavn (FRO) - The New Saints FC (WAL)
Second qualifying round (matches to be played July 14/15 and July 21/22)
Hibernians FC (MLT) v Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)
APOEL FC (CYP) v FK Vardar (MKD)
Qarabag FK (AZE) v FK Rudar Pljevlja (MNE)
FK Sarajevo (BIH) v KKS Lech Poznan (POL)
NK Maribor (SVN) v FC Astana (KAZ)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR) v Dundalk FC (IRL)
HJK Helsinki (FIN) v FK Ventspils (LVA)
FC Midtjylland (DEN) v Lincoln FC (GIB)or FC Santa Coloma (AND)
Molde FK (NOR) v FC Pyunik (ARM) or SS Folgore (SMR)
Malmo FF (SWE) v FK Zalgiris Vilnius (LTU)
Celtic FC (SCO) v Stjarnan (ISL)
FK AS Trencin (SVK) v FC Steaua Bucarest (ROM)
FK Partizan (SRB) v FC Dila Gori (GEO)
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)
CS Fola Esch (LUX) v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
KF Skenderbeu (ALB) v Crusaders FC (NIR) or FC Levadia Tallinn (EST)
B36 Torshavn (FRO) or The New Saints FC (WAL) v Videoton FC (HUN)