SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE leaders Dundalk will take on either Dutch giants Ajax or Austrian outfit SK Sturm Graz in the third round of the Europa League qualifiers, if they manage to defeat AEK Larnaca.
The Lilywhites saw off Levadia Tallinn 3-1 on aggregate in the opening round, beating the Estonian side away from home before recording an impressive 2-1 win on Thursday night thanks to goals from Pat Hoban and Michael Duffy.
Stephen Kenny’s side host Cypriot side Larnaca at Oriel Park in the first leg of their second-round clash this Thursday, before travelling to the AEK Arena in 10 days’ time.
Four-time European Cup winners Ajax take on SK Sturm Graz in the Champions League second qualifying round, with Dundalk taking on the losers of the tie.
Ajax were runners-up to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie last season but failed to qualify for the Champions League in 2017/18 after falling to Nice in the third round of the qualifiers.
The Dutch side went without European football completely last season after subsequently failing to qualify for the Europa League — falling 4-2 in their play-off against Rosenborg.
SK Sturm came second in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, finishing 13 points behind champions Red Bull Salzburg.
The side have previously qualified for the Europa League group stages in 2010 and 2012.
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