By DAN KARELL
With millions of dollars to play for, 20 teams were drawn into the UEFA Champions League qualifying play-off round, with just 10 teams earning a place in the group stage.
FC Schalke, which features U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Jermaine Jones, was drawn in the league route with FC Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine, an easier test compared to two other sides in the league route. There’s a chance Schalke could face a different opponent, as Kharkiv is currently under investigation by UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport because of match-fixing allegations.
Both Arsenal and AC Milan were handed difficult draws, as the Gunners will need to defeat Fenerbahce while Milan face PSV Eindhoven, nearly always a good side and tough to play against.
The teams will play the first leg of the round on Aug. 20/21, with the return leg to come on Aug. 27/28.
Here’s a full list of the Champions League play-off round draw:
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAY-OFF DRAW
League route
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v Real Sociedad de Fútbol (ESP)
FC Schalke 04 (GER) v FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)
FC Paços de Ferreira (POR) v FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) v AC Milan (ITA)
Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) v Arsenal FC (ENG)
Champions route
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v FK Austria Wien (AUT)
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) v NK Maribor (SVN)
FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ) v Celtic FC (SCO)
FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU) v Legia Warszawa (POL)
The participation of Fenerbahçe SK and FC Metalist Kharkiv in the competition is subject to pending disciplinary and CAS proceedings.
Will be interesting to see if Fener ends up getting banned or not, they are still currently fighting it.