Hibernians to discover opponents in Conference League second qualifying round

FA Trophy winners Hibernians will discover their European opponents when the draw of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League is held on Wednesday afternoon (2pm).

Contrary to their domestic rivals, Birkirkara and Floriana, the Paolites were promoted to the second qualifying round of the Conference League, as Chelsea and Real Betis, who contested the UEFA Conference League final last month, are already assured of a place in the league stage of both the Champions League and the Europa League, respectively.

On Wednesday morning, the potential opponents of Hibernians, who are unseeded in Group 4, were revealed, and the Paolites will be keeping their fingers crossed that they can land Liechtenstein side FC Vaduz, who on paper looks to be the more playable team.

FC Vaduz are familiar opponents for Hibernians as the Paolites beat the Liechtenstein side 2-0 in the Europa League first qualifying round.

The other potential opponents for Hibs are the winners of four first qualifying round ties.

These are the ties between NSI Runavik, of the Faroe Islands, and HJK Helsinki, of Finland, Kosovo’s FC Malisheva, and Vikingur Reykjavik, of Iceland, San Marino’s Tre Fiori and FC Pyunik, of Armenia, and Slovakia’s Spartak Trnava and BK Hacken, of Sweden.

Meanwhile, Floriana and Birkirkara will discover their potential opponents should they manage to qualify from their first qualifying round ties.

Floriana, who were drawn to face Welsh side Haverfordwest County, face a much tougher second qualifying round as they could be pitted against Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers, Santa Clara, of Portugal, Kosovo’s FC Ballkani, Scotland’s Dundee United, Switzerland’s FC Lausanne Sport.

Birkirkara, who face FC Petrocub, of Moldova, in the first qualifying round, are among the seeded teams in Group 7 and could be drawn against FK Sarajevo, of Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia’s FK Novi Pazar, Albania’s FC Dinamo City, or the winner of the ties between Azerbaijan’s Sabah FC and NK Celje, of Slovenia, and the tie of Montenegro’s FK Decic and FC Sileks, Macedonia.

The second qualifying round will be played on July 24 and 31.