Lie of the lland

Cliftonville will face Nordsjælland in the Europa League First Qualifying Round.

This morning’s draw at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon pitted the Reds with the Danish side, who finished third in last season’s Superliga.

The winners of the tie will progress to take on either Shamrock Rovers or AIK in the Second Qualifying Round.

Nordsjælland – otherwise known as The Wild Tigers – play at the 10,300-capacity Right to Dream Park in Farum and will be competing in the Europa League for the first time since 2013, when they suffered a Play-Off defeat to Elfsborg of Sweden.

Right To Dream Park

The contest will represent the Reds’ third meeting with opposition from Denmark, having locked horns with Aalborg in the 1996 InterToto Cup before facing Copenhagen in the UEFA Cup a decade ago.

The first leg of the tie with Kasper Hjulmand’s side is scheduled for July 12 with the return game taking place on July 19 and, while all arrangements remain subject to change, supporters are urged against making any travel arrangements whatsoever until both fixtures have been officially confirmed by the Club.

Reds Chairman Gerard Lawlor and Manager Barry Gray were present at this morning’s First Qualifying Round draw in Switzerland and will communicate details of the tie when they have been ratified with both UEFA and our counterparts at Nordsjælland.