Football News: Chelsea Drawn for UEFA Conference League Play-Off, Rangers Face Champions League Challenge
In the latest football news, Chelsea have been drawn to face either Braga or Servette in the UEFA Conference League play-off round. The first leg will take place at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, August 22, with the return leg one week later on Thursday, August 29.
Chelsea, who did not feature in European competition last season, are taking part in the Conference League for the first time in 2024/25. The loser of the Europa League third qualifying round tie between Braga and Servette will drop into the Conference League to face the Blues for a place in the main competition.
Rangers Face Champions League Challenge
Meanwhile, Rangers will face RB Salzburg or FC Twente in the Champions League play-off round, if they progress past Dynamo Kyiv. Philippe Clement’s side face Kyiv in the third-round qualifier, with the first leg on Tuesday, August 6 in Poland and the return fixture on Tuesday, August 13.
If Rangers do progress to the play-offs, they will be at home first on August 20/21 with the return leg on August 27/28. Kyiv are playing their home games in Poland due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, while Rangers are using Hampden Park as their home ground due to Ibrox not being ready for the start of the season.
Other European Competition News
In other European competition news:
- Hearts will face the winners of FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih (UKR) or FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) in the Europa League play-off round. Should Hearts lose their play-off, they will drop into the group stage of the Conference League.
- Kilmarnock will take on Copenhagen or FC Baník Ostrava (CZE) in the Conference League play-off round, should they beat Tromso of Norway.
- St Mirren, meanwhile, will play Romania’s CS Corvinul 1921 Hunedoara or FC Astana of Kazakhstan in their play-off should they progress past Brann.
With the new European football season just around the corner, fans can look forward to a thrilling campaign of action across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
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