In the 3rd preliminary round of the European League (EL), the Jablonec footballers will compete against the loser from the 2nd preliminary round of the Champions League (LM) between Celtic Glasgow and Midtjylland. In the event of the elimination from Rapid, Prague Sparta will face Anorthosis Famagusta with the Czech midfielder and former Letenský player Josef Hušbauer in the 3rd preliminary round of the LM in the 3rd preliminary round of the EL.
The first matches will take place on August 5, revenge is on the agenda a week later. Jablonec starts at home, as well as Sparta. The decision was made today by today’s lot at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Jablonec, like Sparta, was in front of the draw of the 3rd preliminary round of the European League in the so-called main part and could only get two pairs. The second variant was a defeated team from a duel between Eindhoven and Galatasaray Istanbul.
“The lot is a lottery ticket, but it will only show up on the field. We’ve seen in recent years that we’ve been favorites at least once and we haven’t made it. We won’t be like favorites now. It’s hard to choose your opponent at this stage. But I’m kind of plus or minus with the lottery more satisfied that this pair of Celtic or Midtjylland came to us, “said Jablonec captain Tomáš Hübschman for the club website.
The Czech teams competed with both possible Jablonec opponents in the last cup season. Slavia lost to Midtjylland in the final preliminary round of the Champions League after an outdoor loss of 1: 4 and the opponent passed the group for the first time in a prestigious competition. She ran into Celtic twice last year in the European League group Sparta and won a high 4: 1 in both matches.
Celtic has well-known fans, but the question is what percentage will be able to fill the stadium due to the coronavirus situation. “I personally played at Celtic Stadium. When it was full and you were on the field, it was very electrifying. There’s a lot to know if there are people or not during the covid. Midtjylland is such a science football, it relies a lot on player statistics and data. somehow, they have quality and they get into the cups regularly, “said Hübschman.
“Both pairs that threatened us were resonant and strong. Galatasaray and PSV are quality big clubs. Celtic is a strong team, it has a tradition and if it is a full stadium, it will be very difficult. Midtjylland eliminates Slavia, Danish football now has a sound and a boom after European Championship, “reminded Jablonec coach Petr Rada of Denmark’s progress to the Euro semifinals.
Both potential rivals of Jablonec took second place in their domestic leagues last season. Midtjylland defeated Olomouc 2: 1 a few days ago as part of this year’s summer training. The people of Jablonec have already managed to cross the Danish opponent in the cups, in the 2015/16 season they unexpectedly eliminated FC Copenhagen in the qualification of the European League. They have not yet encountered the Scottish team in UEFA competitions.
The duel with Sparta would be extremely special for the 31-year-old Famagusta midfielder Hušbauer, who in the past played at Letná and then for rival Slavia. Anorthosis finished fourth last season in the Cypriot league and qualified for the European League thanks to his home cup triumph.
Sparta competed with Famagusta in the 1964/65 season in the then Cup Winners’ Cup and won a landslide 10-0 at home and 6-0 away. Since then, the Letna team have played four times against APOEL Nicosia, scoring three victories and one draw.
Both Jablonec and Sparta need to eliminate at least one opponent to ensure participation in the group of this cup year. The North Bohemians, who took third place in the last league year, have so far played the group only in the 2018/19 season, when they advanced directly. They have failed in qualifying in the past two years.
Lot 3 of the preliminary round of the European Football League (first match on 5 August, revenge on 12 August):
Main part:
Jablonec – Celtic Glasgow / Midtjylland, Rapid Vienna /Sparta Prague – Anorthosis Famagusta, PSV Eindhoven (Sadílek)/Galatasaray Istanbul – St Johnstone.
Master part:
Dinamo Zagreb / Omonia Nicosia (Lecjaks) – Legia Warsaw (Pekhart) / Flora Tallinn, Mura / Ludogorec Razgrad – Ferencváros Budapest / Žalgiris Vilnius, Kajrat Almaty / Red Star Belgrade – Alaškert / Sheriff Tiraspol, Lincoln Red Imps / Cluj – Slovan Bratislava Medvedev, Zmrhal) / Young Boys Bern, Olympiakos Piraeus (Vaclik) / Něftchi Baku – Malmö / HJK Helsinki.
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