Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp will return to Germany to face Hoffenheim while two of Europe’s great entertainers will meet as Napoli take on Nice.
The 20 teams vying for the ten available places in the UEFA Champions League group stage have discovered who lies between them and a coveted spot in Europe’s elite club competition.
European champions in 1967, will have a 10,000km round-trip to take on Kazakhstan’s Astana – the side they edged past 3-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round 12 months ago.
Champions route
Qarabağ (AZE) v København (DEN) – 15 & 23 August
APOEL (CYP) v Slavia Praha (CZE) – 15 & 23 August
Olympiacos (GRE) v Rijeka (CRO) – 16 & 22 August
Celtic (SCO) v Astana (KAZ) – 16 & 22 August
Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) v Maribor (SVN) – 16 & 22 August
League route
İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR) v Sevilla (ESP) – 16 & 22 August
Young Boys (SUI) v CSKA Moskva (RUS) – 15 & 23 August
Napoli (ITA) v Nice (FRA) – 16 & 22 August
Hoffenheim (GER) v Liverpool (ENG) – 15 & 23 August
Sporting CP (POR) v FCSB (ROU) – 15 & 23 August
The ten winners earn a place in the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage – live on UEFA.com on Thursday 24 August – with the defeated teams transferring to the UEFA Europa League group stage.
Who’s already in the group stage?
Pot 1: Real Madrid (ESP, holders), Bayern München (GER), Juventus (ITA), Benfica (POR), Chelsea (ENG), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Monaco (FRA), Spartak Moskva (RUS)
Other pots: Anderlecht (BEL), Atlético Madrid (ESP), Barcelona (ESP), Basel (SUI), Beşiktaş (TUR), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Feyenoord (NED), RB Leipzig (GER), Manchester City (ENG), Manchester United (ENG), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Porto (POR), Roma (ITA), Tottenham Hotspur (ENG).
Source: uefa.com
