Ironically, with a dastardly international break commencing after the meeting of Manchester United and Liverpool on Sunday evening, the first sign of the new soccer season ratcheting up a gear or two arrived on Friday with the draws taking place for the Europa League and Europa Conference League group stages.
Personally, it was the group containing Manchester United, Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur and Fenerbache which commanded greatest interest. As firstly the latter are currently coached by a certain Mr Mourinho, while the prospect of taking on Rangers is enough to make any fan’s pulse move a lick or two quicker, and no matter who you are, you’d always fancy yourself against Spurs because they’re about as predictable as the Irish weather.
Speaking of Irish, though my League Of Ireland leanings will always be towards St Pat’s, you could only be pleased for Shamrock Rovers who – having taken over the mantle from Dundalk in more recent years as the chief standard bearers for domestic football. A wonderful job they have done with that billing too.
Their reward for such being the case is landing in a group alongside Chelsea (a), Apoel (h), SK Rapid, The New Saints, Borace and Larne.
Now, naturally, Stephen Bradley’s side are bound to be up against it taking on some of those listed above, but the profile and revenue generated from doing so can only be good for the club and the league.
Other Groups:
MANCHESTER UNITED
Rangers (h), Porto (a), PAOK (h), Fenerbache (a), Bodo Glimt (h), Vitoria Plzen (a), FC Twente (h), Steau Bucherest (a).
Tottenham face Roma (h), Rangers (a), AZ Alkmaar (h), Ferencvaros (a), Qarabag (h), Galatasaray (a), Elfsborg (h) and Hoffenheim (a).
The fixture schedule for the Europa League and Conference League will be released on Saturday August 31.
The Europa Conference League draw has pitted Chelsea at home to Irish side Shamrock Rovers. Enzo Maresca’s team will play Gent (h), Heidenheim (a), Astana (a), Shamrock Rovers (h), Panathinaikos (a) and Noah (h).
Shamrock Rovers will also host Welsh side The New Saints and travel to Northern Irish club Larne. Their six fixtures are Chelsea (a), APOEL (h), SK Rapid (a), The New Saints (h), Borace (h) and Larne (a).
Hearts take on Copenhagen (a), Heidenheim (h), Omonoia (h), Cercle Brugge (a), Petrocub (h) and Dinamo-Minsk (a).
The New Saints have been given an away tie at Serie A side Fiorentina and Greek giants Panathinaikos. Their fixtures are Fiorentina (a), Djurgarden (h), Astana (h), Shamrock Rovers (a), Panathinaikos (h) and Celje (a).
Larne face Gent (h), Molde (a), Olimpija (a), Shamrock Rovers (h), St Gallen (h) and Dinamo-Minsk (a).
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