Group chat update

The opening process in the draw for the first round of the UEFA Youth League has taken place in Nyon, where Cliftonville Strollers’ list of potential opponents has been reduced to just five teams.

The Wee Reds, who are set to return to Europe after winning the NIFL Under-18 Academy League last season, have been selected in Group 2 for this evening’s Domestic Champions Path draw, where they will be paired with one of SK Super Nova (Latvia), Ballkani (Kosovo), HJK Helsinki (Finland), UNA Strassen (Luxembourg) and Cardiff Met (Wales).

First round ties are scheduled to be played on September 16 and October 14, with the pairings for the second and third phases of the competition also set to be confirmed later today.