Slov match

A match some 1458 miles from Solitude will this evening go a long way to determining the final list of Cliftonville’s potential Europa Conference League first qualifying round opponents.

As supporters who have been maintaining a regular check of our dedicated Euro Guide will already know, 27 of the 29 teams the Reds could draw have already been identified, with a 28th to be confirmed when Slovakia’s Play-Off Final takes place in the town of Dunajska Streda tonight.

Host Club DAC take on Trencin at the MOL Arena, where the winners will complete the Fortuna Liga’s continental representation.

Fellow Slovakian outfit MFK have already qualified but are awaiting the outcome of this evening’s game to decide whether they, DAC (who hold the highest coefficient of the trio) or Trencin will be in the seeded pot for next month’s first qualifying round draw.

The seeded section – from where Cliftonville’s opponents will come – will then be completed by Tuesday’s Albanian Cup Final, where Laci face Vllaznia.

As our Euro Guide demonstrates, Laci have already qualified for the Conference League, so victory at the Air Albania Stadium would open up a pathway for Kukesi to take the last vacant spot.

Europa Conference League first qualifying round
Two remaining seeded berths
Slovakia
DAC
MFK*
Trencin
[To be confirmed tonight]

Albania
Kukesi
Vllaznia
[To be confirmed on Tuesday]

*Already qualified but awaiting seeding status.