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The road to the group stage of UEFA’s second and third-tier competitions is in full swing, with the preliminary rounds of both the Europa League and Conference League underway.
The Europa League officially kicked off with the first qualifying round, and the second round pairings have now been confirmed. So far, only 13 out of 36 teams have secured their place in the league phase, with many more battling through the qualifying stages.
All eyes will be on some of the key matchups scheduled for Thursday 24 July, including Beşiktaş v Shakhtar Donetsk and Lugano v CFR Cluj. From the third qualifying round, clubs such as Wolfsberger, Fredrikstad and PAOK will enter the scene. In the playoff stage, teams like Young Boys, Genk, Aberdeen, Sigma Olomouc and Samsunspor are set to join the competition.
Lugano v CFR Cluj
Celje v AEK Larnaca
Levski Sofia v Braga
Baník Ostrava v Legia Warsaw
Anderlecht v Häcken
Sheriff Tiraspol v Utrecht
Midtjylland v Hibernian
Beşiktaş v Shakhtar Donetsk
The qualification path for the UEFA Conference League is even more complex, with numerous clubs still in contention. Among the most notable matchups: Rapid Vienna will face Montenegrin side Dečić, while AEK Athens are set to take on Hapoel Be'er Sheva of Israel.
