Second division Alania face Turkish test in Europa League playoffs

Three Russian teams – Alania, Spartka and Lokomotiv – have learned who their opponents will be in the playoff round of the Europa League after the draw took place in UEFA headquarters in the Swiss town of Nyon on Friday.

­Second division sidem Alania Vladikavkaz,, who made it into the Europa League by reaching the final of the national cup, have got the toughest opposition of all the Russian clubs.

Thirteen-time Turkish football champions Besiktas J.K., will enter the clash against the Caucasian team as strong favorites.

Spartak Moscow were drawn against Polish opposition from Legia Warszawa, while another side from the Russian capital – Lokomotiv – are to travel to Slovakia’s Spartak Trnava.

The first legs of the ties are to be played on August 18, with the returns to follow on August 25.

The 38 play-off winners will join the ten defeated sides from the UEFA Champions League play-offs in the group stage, which kicks off on September 15.

UEFA Europa League play-off draw:

Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR) v Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) v Vitória SC (POR)
Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL) v FK Partizan (SRB)
FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) v FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (FRA)
Beşiktaş JK (TUR) v FC Alania Vladikavkaz (RUS)
Rosenborg BK (NOR) v AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)
FC Vorskla Poltava (UKR) v FC Dinamo Bucureşti (ROU)
Bursaspor (TUR) v RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
AS Roma (ITA) v ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Olympiacos Volou FC (GRE) v Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
Legia Warszawa (POL) v FC Spartak Moskva (RUS)
FK Ekranas (LTU) v Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)
PAOK FC (GRE) v FC Karpaty Lviv (UKR)
Trabzonspor AŞ (TUR) v Athletic Club (ESP)
Heart of Midlothian FC (SCO) v Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
NK Maribor (SVN) v Rangers FC (SCO)
FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU) v PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL)
FC Nordsjælland (DEN) v Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (UKR) v Fulham FC (ENG)
FC Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) v FC Spartak Trnava (SVK)
FC Sion (SUI) v Celtic FC (SCO)
WKS Śląsk Wrocław (POL) v FC Rapid Bucureşti (ROU)
PFC Litex Lovech (BUL) v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
S.S. Lazio (ITA) v FK Rabotnicki (MKD)
CD Nacional (POR) v Birmingham City FC (ENG)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) v SV Ried (AUT)
FC Thun (SUI) v Stoke City FC (ENG)
Aalesunds FK (NOR) v AZ Alkmaar (NED)
FC Vaslui (ROU) v AC Sparta Praha (CZE)
AC Omonia (CYP) v FC Salzburg (AUT)
FC Zestafoni (GEO) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)
Hannover 96 (GER) v Sevilla FC (ESP)
HJK Helsinki (FIN) v FC Schalke 04 (GER)
FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v AEK Athens FC (GRE)
Stade Rennais FC (FRA) v FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
CS Gaz Metan Mediaş (ROU) v FK Austria Wien (AUT)
SC Braga (POR) v BSC Young Boys (SUI)
R. Standard de Liège (BEL) v Helsingborgs IF (SWE)

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