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Gatt and Molde drawn in Champions League second qualifying round

UEFAChampionsLeaguedraw1 (UEFA)

By DAN KARELL

It’s only been one month since the UEFA Champions League final, but in eight days, the first qualifying round for next season’s Champions League will be underway.

At UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, the draws for the first and second round of qualifying for the Champions League took place, pairing American winger Josh Gatt and Norweigian champions FK Molde with Sligo Rovers F.C. in the Irish Premier Division in the second round.

The two-legged match-up is set to take place on July 16/17 and July 22/23, with the venues for the home and away legs to be set at a later date. Also drawn in the second qualifying round were Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv, Scottish champions Celtic FC, and Belorussian champions BATE Borisov, the latter two both in last year’s group stage of the competition.

Here’s a look at the full draw of the 1st and 2nd qualifying rounds:

First qualifying round draw (July 2/3 and 9/10)

FC Shirak (ARM) v SP Tre Penne (SMR)

FC Lusitans (AND) v v EB/Streymur (FRO)

Second qualifying round draw (July 16/17 and 23/24)

Neftçi PFK (AZE) v KS Skënderbeu (ALB)

FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU) v FK Vardar (MKD)

FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) v FK Željezničar (BIH)

FC Sheriff (MDA) v FK Sutjeska (MNE)

Birkirkara FC (MLT) v NK Maribor (SVN)

Sligo Rovers FC (IRL) v Molde FK (NOR)

IF Elfsborg (SWE) v FC Daugava Daugavpils (LVA)

HJK Helsinki (FIN) v JK Nõmme Kalju (EST)

FK Ekranas (LTU) v FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL)

The New Saints FC (WAL) v Legia Warszawa (POL)

Celtic FC (SCO) v Cliftonville FC (NIR)

GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v CS Fola Esch (LUX)

Győri ETO FC (HUN) v Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)

FC BATE Borisov (BLR) v FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)

FC Shirak (ARM)/SP Tre Penne (SMR) v FK Partizan (SRB)

ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) v PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)

FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v FC Lusitans (AND)/EB/Streymur (FRO)

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What do you make of the draw? Do you see Molde moving on to the second round? Happy the Champions League is back in eight days time?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. We won’t get Gatt. Molde won the league last year, but right now they are near the bottom of the table with ONLY one win in the last five games. He has has 11 matches under his belt, but isn’t getting the goals or assists he needs to warrant a call-up for a competitive international match over other wingers whose clubs can actually afford to lose a player for a few weeks in the summer.

    Reply
    • The decision for his inclusion as part of the GC squad rests with JK and Gatt himself.

      JK can call anyone he wishes since this is a FIFA date….If JK calls Molde has to release him unless he is injured. However, If JK calls Gatt has the option to turn down the invite if he chooses.

      Reply
  2. Given the fact that Klinsmann has had his eye on him for a while, and the fact that the Gold Cup will give him a second extended view at him after the January camp, I don’t think there’s any chance he isn’t with the team this summer

    Reply
    • Summer break is almost over. Teams are starting back up and the question is what is more important: Participating in a secondary international tournament or practicing with your club team in order to secure a starting spot or significant playing time.

      Reply
      • Gatt has yet to establish himself at the international level. I would say the Gold Cup is far more important to his career than another slog through champions league qualifying. Molde has no chance of making the group stage so a match against Sligo or whatever is not a big deal.

  3. I wonder if that has any bearing on him getting picked for the Gold Cup? I wouldn’t be surprised if Gatt is not picked for the Gold Cup.

    Reply
    • Molde should be able to handle Sligo w/o Gatt and others who might be on international duty but I am sure there are going to fight every call up during this time.. i bet Jurgen wants Gatt to be there but negotiations between him and Molde will take a while…

      Reply

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