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Nyon (Switzerland) – Footballers from Pilsen will face Kosovo's Drita in the 2nd preliminary round of the European Conference League. Prague Bohemians 1905, who are returning to the European Cups after 36 years, will meet the strong Norwegian team Bodö/Glimt. It was decided by today's draw at the Swiss headquarters of UEFA in Nyon.
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The first matches are scheduled for July 27, the return matches will take place on August 3. While Viktoria will start at home, the “Klangaros” will start the doubleheader away. The home rematch will be played by the Vršovice team at the Sparta na Letná stadium. Bohemians reported on their website that after a visit from UEFA, they received an official report from the commissioner, which confirmed the ineligibility of Ďolíček to host an EKL match. Participation in the main stage of the third highest European club competition will ensure both teams only progress over three opponents.
As usual, UEFA divided the teams into groups during the draw, so both Pilsen and Bohemians 1905 had five options to choose from. The West Bohemians were among the seeded clubs as favorites, the Praguers belonged to the group of unseeded teams. Bodö/Glimt is probably the most difficult possible opponent for Bohemians. The “kangaroos” could still get Poznań, Trnava, Osijek or a better one from Pjunik Yerevan – Trans Narva.
Bodö/Glimt reached the Europa League group last year, where they finished third behind Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven. After that, the current leader of the Norwegian league lost to Poznań in the opening round of the elimination phase of the Conference League.
“Before the draw I was a little nervous because I have not experienced this situation before. I don't know the team from Norway very well and I don't know what to expect from them . We will watch their matches on video and do everything to get over them,” said 42-year-old Bohemians captain Josef Jindřišek, who extended his contract for another year on Tuesday.
Drita finished in second place in the last season of the Kosovo League. The team from the city of Gjilan became the national champion three times, most recently in the 2019/20 season. Drita has never progressed to the group stage of the European Cups.
“We have already managed to find out a little about it and it is a very interesting team. We do not renounce the role of favourite, on the contrary, we have to fit in and accept it. FC Drita is a team on a similar level to Balkani, with whom Slavia had trouble. This year, Balkani won the league by just three points just ahead of Drita, so the level will be similar,” Pilsen's club website quoted coach Miroslav Koubek as saying.
The European Cups in the coming season will also be played by title holder Sparta, who will reach the third preliminary round of the Champions League and is assured of at least one of the Conference League groups, and vice-champion Slavia. The winner of the domestic cup will face the defeated team from the 2nd preliminary round of the LM between Dnipro and Panathinaikos Athens in the 3rd preliminary round of the Europa League. Success for Slavists will ensure at least the Conference League. Sparta will learn the name of the first opponent on July 24.
The draw of the 2nd preliminary round of the European Conference League
(first match on July 27, second leg on August 3):
Pilsen – Drita (Kos.), Bodö/Glimt – Bohemians 1905 strong>, Rijeka (Croatia) – Dukagjini (Kos.)/Europa (Gibr.), Gzira United (Malta)/Glentoran (N. Ir. ) – Diddeleng (Luc.)/St Patrick's (Ir.), Djurgardens – Lucerne, Celje – Vitória Setúbal, Nikšič (Č. Hora)/Cosmos (San. Mar.) – Penybont (Wal.)/Santa Coloma (And.), Beer Ševa – Panevežys (Lit.)/Milsami (Mold.), Poltava – Dunajská Streda/Dila Gori (Georgia), Cluj – Demirspor, Ordabasy Shymkent (Kaz.) – Legia Warsaw, Makedonija Skopje/RFS (Lit.) – Sabah (Azerbaijan), Besiktas Istanbul – Tirana/Dinamo Batumi (Georgia) . Swed.) – Pjunik (Arm.)/Narva Trans (Est.), Auda (Lat.) – Trnava, Osijek – Zalaegerszég (Hungary.), Twente Enschede – Hammarby, KÁ Hafnarfjördur (Isl.)/Connah's Quay Nomads (Wal .) – Dundalk (Ir.)/Magpies (Gibr.), FC Bruges – Aarhus, Haka (Fin.)/Crusaders (N.Ir.) – Rosenborg Trondheim, Hibernian (Scot.) – Víkingur (Faeroe ostr.)/Escaldes (And.), B36 Tórshavn (Faeroe ostr.)/Paide (Est.) – Škendija (Mak.)/Haverfordwest (Wal.), Basel – Kostanaj (Kaz.)/Honka Espoo (Fin. ), Differdange (Luc.) – Maribor/Birkirkara (Malta), Austria Vienna – Borac Banja Luka (Bos.), CSKA Sofia – Sfintul Gheorghe, Ararat-Armenia/Egnatia (Alb.) – Aris Thessaloniki, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Petrocub Hincesti (Mold.), Torpedo Žodino – Larnaca, Kutaisi (Georgia)/Sarajevo – Aktobe (Kaz.), Midtjylland – Niederkorn (Luc.)/Gjilani (Kos.), HB Tórshavn (Faroe Islands)/Derry City (Ir.) – Kuopio, Ghent – Žilina/Levadia Tallinn, Kecskemét – Riga/Víkingur Reykjavík, Linfield (Northern Ireland)/Vllaznia (Alb.) – Szczecin, PAOK Thessaloniki – Beitar Jerusalem, Balzan (Malta)/Domžale ( Slovenia) – Vaduz/Neman Grodno (Bel.), Fenerbahce Istanbul – La Fiorita (San. Mar.)/Zimbru Chisinau, Gabala (Azerbaijan) – Omonia Nicosia, Hegelmann (Lit.)/Škupi (Mak.) – Levski Sofia.
