LAST UPDATE | 2 Oct 2020
Updated at 20.17
DUNDALK HAVE TODAY discovered their Europa League fate as they have been paired with Arsenal, Rapid Vienna and Molde in the group stages.
Filippo Giovagnoli’s side secured their passage in the group stages after beating Faroese outfit KI Klaksvik 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium last night.
The Dundalk boss had expressed a preference to come up against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham after Thursday’s win, but will no doubt be pleased at the prospect of facing similarly high-profile opposition.
Dundalk have confirmed all of their home games will take place at the Aviva Stadium.
The Liltywhites will kick off at home to Molde on 22 October, followed by an away trip to Arsenal a week later. Back-to-back games against Rapid Vienna follow – the first away from home – with the away tie with Molde prefacing the home clash with Arsenal on the final match day.
Uefa announced last night that they will permit up to 30% stadium capacity where the local government allows, and the FAI are raising this with the Irish government with a view to permitting fans to Dundalk’s games.
Celtic and Rangers were drawn against sides with great European pedigree, with the Hoops facing seven-times European Cup winners AC Milan and the Light Blues taking on two-time champions of Europe Benfica from Portugal.
Celtic, who were losing UEFA Cup finalists in 2003, will also face Czech side Sparta Prague and French club Lille in Group H.
Neil Lennon’s men dropped into the Europa League qualifiers after being knocked out of the 2020-21 Champions League by Ferencvaros of Hungary.
Rangers will face Standard Liege of Belgium and Polish side Lech Poznan in Group D, in addition to the glamour trip to Lisbon.
Tottenham, UEFA Cup winners in 1972 and 1984, have been drawn against Bulgarian side Ludogorets, LASK of Austria and Royal Antwerp from Belgium in Group J.
Jose Mourinho’s men secured their place in the group phase after a 7-2 victory over Israeli side Maccabi Haifa on Thursday night.
The final Premier League representatives, Leicester, will take on Braga of Portugal, Greek side AEK Athens and Zorya Luhansk from Ukraine in Group G.
Prior to the draw, Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was named the best player in the 2019-20 Europa League.
The Belgian forward’s goals were crucial to Inter reaching the final, but his own goal proved decisive in a thrilling final defeat to Sevilla in Cologne in August.
Draw for the group stage of the 2020/21 Europa League, made on Friday:
Group A: Roma (ITA), Young Boys (SUI), CFR Cluj (ROM), CSKA Sofia (BUL)
Group B: Arsenal (ENG), Rapid Vienna (AUT), Molde (NOR), Dundalk (IRL)
Group C: Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Slavia Prague (CZE), Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR), Nice (FRA)
Group D: Benfica (POR), Standard Liege (BEL), Rangers (SCO), Lech Poznan (POL)
Group E: PSV Eindhoven (NED), PAOK (GRE), Granada (ESP), Omonia Nicosia (CYP)
Group F: Napoli (ITA), Real Sociedad (ESP), AZ Alkmaar (NED), Rijeka (CRO)
Group G: Braga (POR), Leicester City (ENG), AEK Athens (GRE), Zorya Luhansk (UKR)
Group H: Celtic (SCO), Sparta Prague (CZE), AC Milan (ITA), Lille (FRA)
Group I: Villarreal (ESP), Qarabag (AZE), Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), Sivasspor (TUR)
Group J: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), Ludogorets (BUL), LASK (AUT), Antwerp (BEL)
Group K: CSKA Moscow (RUS), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Feyenoord (NED), Wolfsberg (AUT)
Group L: Gent (BEL), Red Star Belgrade (SRB), Hoffenheim (GER), Slovan Liberec (CZE)
Dundalk Fixtures
Molde (H) – 22 October, KO 5.55pm
Arsenal (A) – 29 October, KO 8pm
Rapid Vienna (A) – 5 November, KO 5.55pm
Rapid Vienna (H) – 26 November KO 8pm
Molde (A) – 3 December, KO 8pm
Arsenal (H) – 10 December, KO 5.55pm
Additional reporting by Press Association
