Sports

Saturday July 18, 2009

Europa League: Roma handed Belarus or Belgium trip

NYON, Switzerland (AP) - Italy's AS Roma will travel to Belarus or Belgium to progress in the inaugural Europa League after the draw for the third qualifying round was made Friday.

Roma, the highest-ranked team among the 110 involved, was drawn away to Naftan Novopolotsk or Gent, who complete their two-leg tie in the second qualifying round next week.

Three former European champions featured in a competition which replaces the UEFA Cup as the continent's second-tier club event behind the Champions League.

Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, European Cup winner in 1988, was drawn at home in the first leg against Cherno More of Bulgaria or Moldova's Iskra-Stali.

Hamburger SV, the 1983 European champion from Germany, will travel for the first match to FK Suduva of Lithuania or Denmark's Randers.

Steaua Bucharest, the 1986 European Cup winner from Romania, must advance against Hungary's Ujpest next week to play Motherwell of Scotland or Albania's Flamurtari in the third qualifying round.

Fulham, which finished seventh in the English Premier League last season, was drawn away to face Vetra of Lithuania or Finland's HJK Helsinki.

The two-leg ties are played on July 30 and Aug. 6, with winners advancing to a playoff round when a further 41 teams enter.

That stage will include losing teams from the Champions League third qualifying round, plus domestic cup winners and other teams from Europe's strongest football nations.

A complicated tournament format will see 48 teams play in 12 four-team groups between September and December before a knockout stage begins next February featuring additional teams from the Champions League group stage.

The final is scheduled to be played in Hamburg on May 12. - AP


Latest sports news from AP-Wire

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll