This draw is usually the day when I shift my focus back into football a little more. Although the Tour de France will still get my full attention. Today this draw was held together with the qualification round draws of the Europa League.
**Some very interesting draws were picked. **
Even though AJAX Amsterdam almost played the final of the Champions League, and became Champions of The Netherlands, the place of The Netherlands on the coëfficients scale of UEFA was not good enough to give them a direct spot in the Champions League Group stage.
They have to play two preliminary rounds to qualify for that, starting with a very interesting meet-up with Greek Champions PAOK Saloniki.
In the non-Champions track (yes, it's really complicated), Club Brugge from Belgium face Dynamo Kiev from Ukraine. Also a very interesting draw.
Then there is Krasnodar of Russia against FC Porto, which is also a very hard starter for FC Porto.
And also Istanbul Basaksehir that plays against the winner of Victoria Plzen and Olympiacos. Which is always tense, a possible Turkish-Greek game!
In the Europa League the third preliminary round is already drawed, but the second needs to be still played. So loads of "ifs" and "ors" there. But maybe the game between Trabzonspor and Sparta Praha jumps out to be an early cracker!
Interesting and looking forward to see some football again!
Sincerely,
Pele23
