Napoli will play Athletic Bilbao for a place in the Group stage of the Champions League, after the Play-off round draw was held.
The Vesuviani are in the final preliminary round of this year’s edition of the UEFA competition, following last season’s third place finish in Serie A.
Napoli will play Athletic Bilbao for a place in the Group stage of the Champions League, after the Play-off round draw was held.
The Vesuviani are in the final preliminary round of this year’s edition of the UEFA competition, following last season’s third place finish in Serie A.
Seeded for today’s draw in Nyon in the ‘League route’, Rafa Benitez’s side have been paired with Spaniards Athletic Bilbao, for what will be a first competitive meeting.
Napoli will play the first leg at the San Paolo on either August 19 or 20, and the return leg in Spain on either August 26 or 27, with winners progressing to the Group stage of the Champions League.
Celtic were reinstated into the competition just an hour before today’s draw, as UEFA ruled to award them a 3-0 win in the second leg of their Third qualifying round tie with Legia Warsaw, after the Polish side fielded an ineligible player.
That nominal result saw them progress on away goals after an adjusted scoreline of 4-4 on aggregate.
Champions League Play-off round draw
Champions route
NK Maribor-Celtic
Salzburg-Malmo
AAB-APOEL
Steaua-Ludogorets
Slovan Bratislava-BATE
League route
Besiktas-Arsenal
Standard Liege-Zenit
FC Copenhagen-Bayer Leverkusen
Lille-Porto
Napoli-Athletic Bilbao