Latest news with #ChampionsPath
News18
21-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
UEFA Champions League Qualifiers: Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce To Face Feyenoord
Last Updated: Fenerbahce will face Feyenoord in the Champions League third qualifying round. The first leg is in Rotterdam on August 5 or 6, and the return leg in Istanbul on August 12. Jose Mourinho will lead his Fenerbahce team against Feyenoord in the Champions League third qualifying round following Monday's draw. Fenerbahce, runners-up in the Turkish league, will travel to Rotterdam for the first leg on August 5 or 6 and will host the return leg in Istanbul on August 12. The victor will move on to the qualifying playoffs in August, aiming for a spot in the lucrative 36-team league phase. In other matchups involving teams that did not win their domestic league, Benfica will play the first leg away at Nice, and the winner of the second qualifying round match between Salzburg and Brann will host Club Brugge in the first leg. Benfica and Salzburg, who face Brann in Norway on Wednesday, have had an early start to their European season after competing in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Benfica's season ended on June 28 after losing to eventual champion Chelsea in the round of 16, while Salzburg played until June 26 in the group stage. Additionally, in the Champions League qualifying section for non-champions, the winner between Rangers and Panathinaikos will advance to play Viktoria Plzen or Servette. Games in the second qualifying round will be completed by July 30. Aug. 5-6 Brann (Norway) or Salzburg (Austria) vs. Club Brugge (Belgium) Rangers (Scotland) or Panathinaikos (Greece) vs. Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) or Servette (Switzerland) Nice (France) vs. Benfica (Portugal) Feyenoord (Netherlands) vs. Fenerbahce (Turkey) Second Leg Aug. 12 Club Brugge (Belgium) vs. Brann (Norway) or Salzburg (Austria) Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) or Servette (Switzerland) vs. Rangers (Scotland) or Panathinaikos (Greece) Benfica (Portugal) vs. Nice (France) Fenerbahce (Turkey) vs. Feyenoord (Netherlands) Champions Path First Leg Aug. 5-6 RFS (Latvia) or Malmo (Sweden) vs. Copenhagen (Denmark) or Drita (Kosovo) KuPS Kuopio (Finland) or Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) vs. Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) or Zrinjski Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina) Lech Poznan (Poland) or Breidablik (Iceland) vs. Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) or Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) Rijeka (Croatia) or Ludogorets (Bulgaria) vs. Noah (Armenia) or Ferencvaros (Hungary) Hamrun Spartans (Malta) or Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine) vs. Pafos (Cyprus) or Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel) Shkendija (North Macedonia) or FCSB (Romania) vs. Shelbourne (Ireland) or Qarabag (Azerbaijan) Second Leg Aug. 12 Copenhagen (Denmark) or Drita (Kosovo) vs. RFS (Latvia) or Malmo (Sweden) Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) or Zrinjski Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina) vs. KuPS Kuopio (Finland) or Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) or Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) vs. Lech Poznan (Poland) or Breidablik (Iceland) Noah (Armenia) or Ferencvaros (Hungary) vs. Rijeka (Croatia) or Ludogorets (Bulgaria) Pafos (Cyprus) or Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel) vs. Hamrun Spartans (Malta) or Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine) top videos View all Shelbourne (Ireland) or Qarabag (Azerbaijan) vs. Shkendija (North Macedonia) or FCSB (Romania). (With inputs from AP) view comments First Published: News sports » football UEFA Champions League Qualifiers: Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce To Face Feyenoord Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
what's waiting for Hibs today?
Complicated process as Grant Scott's team vie for progress in UEFA's revamped competition Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It's a Champions League draw. But not as many of us may know it. And if anyone needed further proof of UEFA's consistent ability to complicate matters, well, just stay tuned from about one o'clock this afternoon. Hibernian Women's reward for last season's stunning SWPL title triumph, their first since 2007, is a place in the Women's Champions League second qualifying round. The draw for which is scheduled to begin at 14:00 Central European Time – that's 1 pm back home – today. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So who could Hibs get? Well, there's Slavia Prague, FC Twente, Rosengaard … or possibly two out of those three, plus another unseeded team. Let's explain. Mini-tournaments in each round Instead of straight knock-out ties in the qualifying rounds, UEFA split up all 28 teams in the second qualifying round into seven groups of four. Each of those groups will stage two semi-finals, a final and a third/fourth-placed play-off. These 'mini-tournaments' will be hosted by one of the clubs. So, technically, Hibs could end up with a couple of home games. According to UEFA regulations, if only one of the four clubs is interested in hosting, European football's governing body is happy to go along with that. If more than one of the teams wants to claim home advantage, it gets a little more complicated. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad First, UEFA would look for a majority opinion among the clubs taking part. If that doesn't settle it, priority would be given to 'clubs from associations which do not already have clubs hosting a first qualifying round mini-tournament.' If that still doesn't break the tie, there would be a drawing of lots. And, if NO-ONE wants to put their hands up and host the four-game festival of football, UEFA just holds a draw – and foists the 'honour' on one of the clubs. The semi-finals will be played on August 27, with the final and third/fourth place play-off on August 3. The winning finalists will progress to the next stage. So where to Hibs fit into the picture? They're unseeded. But are included in the Champions Path, for obvious reasons. Although you can never take anything for granted when it comes to these draws. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The full(ish) list of teams are below. With plenty of either/or combinations because the first qualifying round – which follows the same format of semi-finals and finals – will produce six unseeded entrants for this stage. Seeded Unseeded SK Slavia Praha (CZE) FC Dinamo-BSUPC (BLR) FC Rosengård (SWE) Hibernian (SCO) FC Twente (NED) BSC Young Boys (SUI) Vålerenga Fotball (NOR) Red Star (SRB) FC Vorskla Poltava (UKR) OH Leuven (BEL) WFC BIIK-Shymkent (KAZ) FCV Farul Constanța (ROU) KFF Vllaznia (ALB) HJK Helsinki (FIN) Apollon Ladies FC (CYP) GKS Katowice (POL) ŽNK Mura (SVN) Round 1 winners SFK 2000 Sarajevo (BIH) Round 1 winners FC Gintra (LTU) Round 1 winners Ferencvárosi TC (HUN) Round 1 winners Fortuna Hjørring (DEN) Round 1 winners Breidablik (ISL) Round 1 winners And the reward for progress is? There's a third qualifying round. Which is a straight knockout affair over two legs on September 11 and 18. Potential opponents include Caroline Weir's Real Madrid, Paris FC, Atletico de Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sporting Lisbon. So about as tough as it gets. Teams progressing through that stage join the automatic qualifiers in the 18-team league phase, which runs from October to December. All pretty straightforward from there on in until the final in Oslo on a date to be confirmed in late May.
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
How Celtic & Rangers could benefit from SPFL rule change
These are the games scheduled to take place on the weekend of August 23/24, as published by the SPFL earlier today. With both Celtic and Rangers needing to progress via the play-off system this season, it's no coincidence the rule change has been passed by the SPFL. Last year, and in years gone by, the league has copped criticism from clubs involved in the play-offs who were unable to request postponements. For example, last August, Kilmarnock had to travel to Aberdeen away in between their two-legged Europa Conference League play-off against FC Copenhagen, which Derek McInnes highlighted on several occasions. As well as Glasgow's big two, Hibernian, Dundee United and Aberdeen could benefit from this new rule too. The Dons will enter the Europa League play-offs stage, and are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League league phase. Hibs and Dundee United will both need to progress through a couple of rounds to even reach the play-off stage of the Europa League and Conference League respectively. As for Celtic, we know they will be involved in the Champions League play-off on the Champions Path. After the league fixtures were published today, we now know they will play one of those games in week ahead of the derby away at Ibrox. If they wanted to postpone their matchday three fixture, this would see them push back a home clash against Livingston. As for Russell Martin's men, they will have to push past Panathinaikos before coming up against future opponents - potentially either Benfica or Club Brugge - to progress to the play-offs of the Champions League. However, they could also end up in the play-offs of the Europa League, or even the Conference League. So, should the Ibrox club find themselves in that situation, an away game against St Mirren could be postponed. It remains to be seen if any of the aforementioned sides will take up the option, but at least they have the autonomy to make that call.
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers and Celtic left facing awkward stick or twist fixture dilemma after major SPFL rule change
IT'S something the hierarchies at Rangers, Celtic and other Scottish Premiership clubs have long been publicly demanding of league bosses: give us more help in Europe. Well, now they've given that help - and the 2025-26 season promises to be the acid test of how it works in practice. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Brendan Rodgers Credit: Kenny Ramsay 4 Rangers FC press conference for new head coach Russell Martin Credit: Willie Vass That's because league bosses quietly introduced a new rule this season which allows all teams involved in European playoff round clashes to request postponements of their Scottish Premiership matchday 3 clash on the weekend of August 23/24. But with that fixture falling just seven days before the first Old Firm match of the season, it remains to be seen whether Rangers or Celtic take them up on it. It's no co-incidence why the rule has come into force this season - with both halves of the Old Firm needing to get through the playoff round if they are to reach the Champions League after drops to Scotland's coefficient meant the loss of an automatic spot. Hibs, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen, of course, could all take advantage of the rule too - with perhaps the safest bet all season being that Jimmy Thelin's Dons (already in the Europa League playoffs) choose to postpone their matchday 3 clash that weekend AGAINST Dundee Utd. Hibs, too, could see merit in pushing their trip to Falkirk back if they can make it past FC Midjyjtlland to reach that far. We already know for sure that Celtic will be involved in the Champions League playoff round on the Champions Path, giving them a game on either the Tuesday or Wednesday that week ahead of the Old Firm. The situation with Rangers is more complicated. While they too will still hope to be riding high in the Champions League qualifiers - where they likes of Benfica or Club Brugge are potential opponents - they could also end up in a Thursday night clash in the Europa League or even Conference League playoffs that week. Alternatively, were they to WIN their opening Champions League qualifier vs Panathinaikos then LOSE - they could be spared the chore of a playoff round clash altogether and drop straight from the UCL 3rd qualifying round direct into the Europa League groups. But after today's fixture reveal, we now know what both sides will face on matchday 3. Celtic transfer special - Nygren in and Kyogo to return And on the face of it Rangers have been handed a far tougher fixture, away to St Mirren in Paisley. Over to Russell Martin then to decide whether he thinks it serves his team's interests better to postpone their trip to Paisley in order to prioritise his team's prep for a potential playoff round clash. 4 Celtic will surely fancy their chances of taking care of Livingston at home even if it means making a number of changes due to their European commitments. Depending on what happens in the early part of the season Martin, therefore, must weigh up the possibility of dropping three points behind Celtic at this stage of the campaign - particularly with the first Old Firm game of the season just a matter of days away. Dropping a distance behind the Hoops so early in the season will be something he won't want to contemplate. 4 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
How Celtic can be seeded in Champions League playoffs as 3 title winners hold the key
As the Hoops are sandwiched between various clubs in Uefa's coefficient table, their seeding status is up in the air Celtic face a two-legged playoff hurdle in their quest to qualify for next season's Champions League. Some tricky ties await the Hoops in August if they go into the round as one of five unseeded teams. But with various domestic champions still to be determined, there is a chance that Celts could be handed a so-called easier route. A total of ten teams will compete in the Champions Path - with Celtic, Bodo/Glimt and Basel already confirmed as a result of winning their respective leagues. However, as Celtic (39.000) are currently sandwiched between various clubs in Uefa's coefficient table, they are not guaranteed a seeded space. At the moment, Dinamo Zagreb (56.000), FC Copenhagen (44.875) and Ferencváros (39.000) are all on course to be crowned title-winners. Red Star Belgrade (44.000) have already wrapped up the league in Serbia. All four clubs - plus Bodo/Glimt (49.000) - are ahead of Celtic in the club rankings, meaning they would occupy the seeded section, but enter the qualifying phase at different stages. Crucially, the Glasgow giants can still bag a seeded spot IF there's a title upset in Croatia, Denmark or Hungary. Zagreb currently trails league leaders HNK Rijeka (9.000) by a single point with two games to go. FC Copenhagen boast a precious one-point advantage heading into their penultimate game, while Ferencváros are three clear with two fixtures remaining. Celtic would only require one of these projected teams to finish runners-up to guarantee a seeded spot prior to the start of qualifying. It's all ifs, buts and maybes. But one certainty is the date of the winner-takes-all playoff to reach the £30million promised land. Uefa have confirmed that the draw will take place on August 4 with the two-legged tie played on 19/20 & 26/27 August 2025. Should they advance past this stage, the league phase draw would take place on August 28. The Hoops do have the insurance policy of Europa League group stage football if they are to fall at the final obstacle. Projected Champions League playoff teams - Champions Path SEEDED Dinamo Zagreb (56.000) Bodo/Glimt (49.000) FC Copenhagen (44.875) Red Star Belgrade (44.000) Ferencváros (39.000) UNSEEDED Celtic (39.000) Basel (33.000) Sturm Graz (23.000) FCSB (22.500) Lech Poznan (16.000)
