Dancing in the streets of Total Network Solutions!

Liverpool to face Welsh side TNS

Holders Liverpool have been drawn against Welsh side Total Network Solutions in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
The winner of the tie will play Faroe Island team HB or Lithuanian outfit Kaunas in the second qualifying round.

Northern Ireland side Glentoran have been drawn against Shelbourne, who play their football in the Republic.

Celtic play the winners of Kazakhstan side Kairat and Slovenian team Artmedia in their second qualifying round tie.

TNS, who have previously played Manchester City in European competition, will have to switch their home leg from the Dreflan on safety grounds and may opt for Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.

The winner of the Glentoran versus Shelbourne tie will play Romanian side Steaua Bucharest in the second qualifying round.



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First qualifying round draw

Game 1 Liverpool v TNS
Game 2 FC Haka v Pyunik
Game 3 HB Torshavn v FBK Kaunas
Game 4 FC Levadia Tallinn v Dinamo Tbilisi
Game 5 NK Gorica v KF Tirana
Game 6 FC Kairat Almaty v FC Artmedia Bratislava
Game 7 PFC Neftchi v FH Hafnarfjordur
Game 8 Rabotnicki v Skonto FC
Game 9 GLENTORAN v SHELBOURNE
Game 10 Dinamo Minsk v Anorthosis Famagusta
Game 11Sliema Wanderers v FC Sheriff
Game 12 F91 Dudelange v NK Zrinjski

(Ties to be played over two legs 12/13 July and 19/20 July)




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Second qualifying round draw

CELTIC v FC Kairat Almaty or FC Artmedia Bratislava
HB Torshavn or FBK Kaunas v Liverpool or TNS
GLENTORAN or SHELBOURNE v Steaua Bucharest


(Ties to be played over two legs 26/27 July and 2/3 August)




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The draw for the third and final qualifying round takes place on 29 July.

A total of 74 clubs will take part in the Champions League, the three qualifying rounds involve 58 clubs.

From the qualifying rounds 16 teams will go through to the group stage, to join a further 16 clubs who have qualified automatically.

I put the full draw in the other thread - didnt see this one.

Outstanding draw for the welsh minnows - This is exactly what they were looking for.

All 4 British and Irish teams will play each other. Quite a coincidence. Its good for the game though, Im sure Liverpool -v- TNS will have a lot of interest in it and the North -v- South battle of Shelbourne and Glentoran should be interesting
I think Liverpool and Shelbourne will go through.

As O Dogg says, just what TNS were looking for - they did of course offer to play Liverpool as a pre-qualifier a while ago, but the Welsh FA wouldn't let them.
I know TNS would like the home game at the Millenneum or somewhere, but I'd love to see what the scousers would make of Llansantffraid!

I heard its going to be played at Wrexhams ground

Is that definite? Wrexham would be a good solution so no-one has to travel too far, but I believe TNS played their last big one at Cardiff.

Im not sure if its definite, I heard it on Sky Sports News today

Hope you're right. Liverpool and North Wales fans going to Cardiff is great for a day out, but not for a sort of "local derby".