Dynamo Kiev await winner of Ħamrun Spartans-FK Zalgiris Champions League tie

Shelbourne or Linfield await loser of tie in Conference League

Updated with Conference League draw

Ħamrun Spartans will be up against Ukraine giants Dynamo Kiev should they manage to advance to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, as the draw of UEFA’s club competition were held on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Malta champions were handed a tough task to progress past the first hurdle of the Champions League when they were drawn against Lithuanian side FK Zalgiris.

Should they manage beat the Lithuanians over the two legs they will be up against Dynamo Kiev.

The Ukrainians have a huge history in European football as they managed to win the UEFA Cup twice, in 1974-75 and in 1985-86. Added to that they lifted the UEFA Super Cup in 1975.

Dynamo are the dominant force in Ukrainian football winning the league title a record 17 times and last season finished just three points clear of nearest rivals Oleksandriya.

The team is coached by Oleksander Shovkovskyi and earlier this year they brought in a familiar name to Maltese football as they signed Colombian winger Angel Torres, formerly of Balzan.

If Ħamrun Spartans fail to eliminate FK Zalgiris they will drop to the second qualifying round of the Conference League and here they will face the team that loses the Champions League tie between Ireland’s Shelbourne and Linfield of Northern Ireland.