It's the first time that there has been Irish interest at this stage in the Champions League, and all of Dundalk was watching events at Nyon on Friday morning.
DID YOU KNOW? Dundalk are the first Irish side in play-offs, and the 35th nation to be represented. #UCL pic.twitter.com/SlwvStdPkP
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 4, 2016
Dundalk are one of ten teams that are in the Champions Route of the draw, that avoided the big guns of Man City, Porto, Villarreal, Roma, and Ajax. They are the lowest seeded team left in the tournament, and we ranked their potential opponents yesterday.
Having a walk around before the #UCL qualifier draw and checking out the #debutants pic.twitter.com/dukyzbonff
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 5, 2016
Stephen Kenny's will host Legia Warsaw in the Aviva stadium, with Celtic against Hapoel Be'er Sheva who beat Olympiakos in the previous round. Legia Warsaw were one of the two opponents we were hoping Dundalk would get:
Had a quick look at Dundalk's potential opponents yesterday. Was hoping for either Legia or Viktoria Plzen. https://t.co/w1zDH2kGUE
— Gavan Casey (@GavanCasey) August 5, 2016
Should Dundalk lose, they will at least have the consolation of a place in the Europa League group stage to soften the blow of their exit.
Elsewhere in the League route of the playoff, the pick of the ties is Porto against Roma, with Pep Guardiola's first game in Europe against Steaua Bucharest.
The first leg ties will be played on 16/17th August, with the return games taking place the following week. The draw for the group stage of the Champions League will take place on the 25th of August.
