Final in Istanbul, Spurs opponents yet to be confirmed The preliminary qualifying round begins next week with the first qualifying round to follow in July. The first round qualifying draw was done today with the first batch of British / Irish sides involved so I figured I'd get a thread going for anyone bothered about the qualifiers. As far as the British / Irish sides are concerned.. The New Saints v Linfield Shamrock Rovers v Hibernians (Malta) Rangers enter in round 3 of qualifying and have to go through two qualifying rounds to join Celtic and the English clubs in the group stage. The draw for the group stage is 25th August
A pity Linfield and TNS drew each other. I'd love some day for a random team from Wales, RoI or NI to fluke their way into the group stages.
I feel like the British / Irish sides seem to meet every season. It's quite frustrating because like yourself, I'd love to see of them have a good European campaign. The winners have a good chance of getting to the Conference League group stages though and perhaps a glamour tie against a team like West Ham, Villarreal or Fiorentina
The money even a conference league group would bring to the likes of Linfield would change the fortunes of the club for a long time.
Shamrock Rovers played in the Europa League a few years back didn’t they? I’m sure they play both AC Milan & Spurs in the group stages.
Yeah I think Shamrock Rovers have had a couple of campaigns where they've made the groups, including a year where they played us. I think Dundalk came up against Arsenal fairly recently too but outside of the two Glasgow clubs though, you rarely see a British or Irish side in the group stages. The extra European competition and qualifying format does increase the likelihood though.
I wouldn't fancy that, Inter were a tough side last season. From Pot 1 we could get 3 where we're not overwhelming favourites for the group; Bayern, PSG or Madrid, and 4 where we are; Porto, Milan, Frankfurt and Ajax. We beat Porto and Milan home and away last season in the groups but hopefully it's Frankfurt.
Have they changed the system again? How are Juventus, Leipzig and Spurs in pot 2? They all finished 4th.
The system has been this way for quite some time. Pot 1 is Champions League winners and 7 champions from their respective leagues. The other pots are all done on coefficient points. Juventus, Leipzig and Spurs have performed well over the last five seasons to warrant their place in pot 2. Nothing to do with league position beyond pot 1. Edit* Maybe Europa League winners in pot 1 too assuming that list is correct. I just noticed Frankfurt were in there.
My personal ranking of the Pot 1 teams 1. Manchester City (Liverpool can't get them) 2. Bayern Munich 3. PSG 4. Real Madrid 5. Ajax (Above this line Liverpool are favourites but its close, below its overwhelming) 6. Porto 7. Milan 8. Eintracht Frankfurt As I'm also a Bayern fan got to do this the other way 1. Liverpool (Above this line Bayern are not favourites, below Bayern are favourites but its close) 2. Chelsea 3. Barcelona 4. Tottenham Hotspur 5. RB Leipzig (Bayern can't get them) (Above this line Bayern are favourites but its close, below its overwhelming) 6. Atletico Madrid 7. Sevilla 8. Juventus
Just for fun guess which 6 teams will qualify. 4 from CH and 2 from LP If the team has no mark next to it it is considered CH. LP- Benfica and Monaco CH- Dinamo Zagreb, Olympiacos, Copenhagen, Red Star
Really hope we avoid Dortmund. I don't think I can do a European away trip before Christmas anyway but I might be tempted if it's a nice one, we've played Dortmund far too many times in recent seasons That's the only downside of this competition. If you play in the Champions League consistently enough, you play the same teams year in year out. I've seen Spurs play most teams in pots 1, 2 & 3 at this point.
