{"id":240,"date":"2026-08-03T13:16:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T13:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=240"},"modified":"2026-08-03T13:16:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T13:16:27","slug":"champions-league-europa-league-conference-league-play-off-draws-celtic-rangers-brighton-hearts-hibernian-motherwell-discover-opponents-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=240","title":{"rendered":"Champions League, Europa League, Conference League play-off draws: Celtic, Rangers, Brighton, Hearts, Hibernian, Motherwell discover opponents | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Celtic will play Austrian champions LASK for a place in the league phase of the Champions League, while Brighton will face CFR Cluj or Tromso in the Conference League play-off round.<\/p>\n
The draws for the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League play-offs were made on Monday, with Rangers<\/strong>, Hearts<\/strong>, Hibernian<\/strong>, Motherwell <\/strong>and Larne <\/strong>also learning their qualifying routes.<\/p>\n
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic <\/strong>will host the first leg of their tie against LASK<\/strong> on August 18 or 19, with the return fixture on August 25 or 26. The losers of the tie will drop into the league phase of the Europa League.<\/p>\n
Brighton<\/strong>, who finished eighth in the Premier League last season, will play Romanian side CFR Cluj<\/strong> or Norwegian club Tromso <\/strong>to decide who will reach the Conference League’s league phase.<\/p>\n
The tie will be played on August 20 and 27, with Brighton hosting the second leg, either side of their opening game of the season at home to Aston Villa on August 23, live on Sky Sports<\/em>.<\/p>\n
Rangers and Hearts learn Europa League routes<\/h3>\n
Rangers<\/strong> and Hearts<\/strong> discovered their Europa League play-off opponents, should they win their third-round qualifying ties.<\/p>\n
Derek McInnes’ Rangers side travel to Poland this week to face Jagiellonia Bialystok on Thursday in the first leg, with the second leg next week.<\/p>\n
Should they win, they will play Northern Irish champions Larne<\/strong> or Iberia<\/strong> 1999<\/strong> of Georgia in the play-offs. The first leg on August 20 would be at Ibrox, with the return tie the following week.<\/p>\n
If Larne lose, they will move into the Conference League play-offs and play Lincoln Red Imps<\/strong> or Omonia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
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\n \n <\/div>\n Image:<\/span> \n Derek McInnes is searching for his first victory as Rangers manager \n <\/span> \n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Hearts<\/strong>, who dropped into the Europa League after their Champions League exit, have been drawn against AGF Aarhus <\/strong>of Denmark or Sabah <\/strong>of Azerbaijan in the play-off round.<\/p>\n
The first leg of that tie would be at Tynecastle Park on August 20, with the return tie on August 27.<\/p>\n
However, Wouter Vrancken’s side must first get past Benfica in the third-round qualifying tie. They are away in Portugal on Thursday and back at home next week.<\/p>\n
Both clubs will be guaranteed another chance at qualifying for a European competition this season, with the Conference League play-off round awaiting if they lose in the third round of the Europa League.<\/p>\n
Rangers would play Jablonec <\/strong>or RFS <\/strong>while Hearts would be up against Paide <\/strong>or SK Rapid.<\/strong><\/p>\n
That has resulted in both clubs requesting that their league game between the first and second legs of any potential play-off tie be postponed, meaning Rangers’ game against St Mirren and Hearts’ trip to Falkirk are both to be rearranged.<\/p>\n
Motherwell and Hibs discover Conference League fate<\/h3>\n
Motherwell<\/strong> will play Bundesliga club Freiburg<\/strong> – last season’s Europa League finalists – <\/strong>in the Conference League play-off round if they beat HJK Helsinki<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Alfred Johansson’s side visit HJK on Wednesday in the third qualifying round, with the second leg at Fir Park on Thursday August 13.<\/p>\n
Hibernian <\/strong>will play IFK Gothenburg <\/strong>or Gent <\/strong>in the Conference League play-off round should they get past KF Shkendija<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Hibs host Shkendija on Thursday with the second leg on August 13 for a place in the play-offs.<\/p>\n
The Conference League play-offs take place on August 20 and 27.<\/p>\n
Champions League play-off draw<\/h3>\n
First legs on August 18\/19 with second legs on August 25\/26 <\/em><\/p>\n
Levski Sofia\/Kairat Almaty vs AEK Athens<\/p>\n
Celtic <\/strong>vs LASK<\/p>\n
Dinamo Zagreb\/Kauno Zalgiris vs Viking<\/p>\n
Mjallby\/Slovan Bratislava vs Ararat-Armenia\/Celje<\/p>\n
Hapoel Be’er Sheva\/Red Star Belgrade vs AGF Aarhus\/Sabah<\/p>\n
Fenerbahce\/Sturm Graz vs Sparta Prague\/Lyon<\/p>\n
Olympiakos\/NEC Nijmegen vs Union Saint-Gilloise\/Bodo\/Glimt<\/p>\n
Europa League play-off draw<\/h3>\n
First legs on August 20, with second legs on August 27<\/em><\/p>\n
Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros\/Gornik Zabrze<\/p>\n
KuPS Kuopio\/Universitatea Craiova vs Ararat-Armenia\/Celje<\/p>\n
Sint-Truiden vs Lincoln Red Imps\/Omonia<\/p>\n
Hapoel Be’er Sheva\/Red Star Belgrade vs Viktoria Plzen<\/p>\n
![\"Derek](\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/07\/768x432\/skysports-rangers-derek-mcinnes_7311546.jpg?20260731221215\")
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