DUNDALK WILL FACE Norwegian club Rosenborg in the Uefa Champions League second qualifying round following this morning’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
The Lilywhites made it all the way to the group stages in 2016 and will begin their journey this year on 11/12 and 18/19 July, with the first leg taking place in Ireland.
Stephen Kenny’s side defeated FH of Iceland at the same stage last year on away goals following a 2-2 away draw, before beating BATE Borisov to qualify for the Champions League play-offs.
Dundalk were beaten by Legia Warsaw, meaning they failed to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, but did automatically qualify for the Europa League, the first Irish club to do so since Shamrock Rovers in 2011.
The Lilywhites secured a draw against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and a win against Macabi Tel Aviv – the first victory for an Irish club in the Europa League – as they finished third in Group D last season on four points.
Rosenborg are currently top of the Norwegian Premier Division with seven wins from their opening 13 games. They last won the title in 2014 and have faced Irish clubs three times in European competition.
The club beat Bohemians (2000) and Shelbourne (2003) in the Champions League second round, while also defeating Sligo Rovers 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa League second round in 2014 despite the Bit O’Red securing a 2-1 win away in Norway.
Meanwhile later on Monday Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City had their European fate decided.
The runaway league leaders were dealt the easiest of the three fixtures, facing Estonian club Levadia Talinn. Rovers will travel to Iceland to play Stjarnan while Derry face Denmark’s FC FC Midtjylland.
The full list of fixtures for the first and second qualifying rounds of the 2017/18 Uefa Champions League are as follows:
First Round
Víkingur v Trepça ’89
Hibernians v FCI Tallinn
Alashkert v FC Santa Coloma
The New Saints v Europa
Linfield v La Fiorita
First qualifying round matches will take place on 27/28 June & 4/5 July
Second Round
Group 1
APOEL v Dudelange
Žalgiris v Ludogorets Razgrad
Qarabağ v Samtredia
Partizan v Budućnost Podgorica
Hibernians or FCI Tallinn v Salzburg
Group 2
Sheriff v Kukës
Astana v Spartaks Jūrmala
BATE Borisov v Alashkert or FC Santa Coloma
Žilina v København
Hapoel Beer-Sheva v Budapest Honvéd
Rijeka v The New Saints or Europa
Group 3
Malmö v Vardar
Zrinjski v Maribor
Dundalk v Rosenborg
FH Hafnarfjördur v Víkingur or Trepça ’89
Linfield or La Fiorita v Celtic
IFK Mariehamn v Legia Warszawa
Second qualifying round matches will take place on 11/12 & 18/19 July
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