Athens test awaits if Celtic can progress

EUROPE: Draw sends Rodgers’ men to Greece if they can see off Rosenborg

Celtic have been drawn against Greek side AEK Athens should they progress to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

The Scottish champions face Norwegian club Rosenborg in the second qualifying round, with the first leg at Parkhead tomorrow.

Brendan Rodgers’ side coasted past Armenian outfit Alashkert 6-0 on aggregate in their first qualifier, as they look to progress to the lucrative Champions League group stages.

Should Celtic see off Rosenborg and move into the third round of qualifying, the matches will take place on August 7/8, with the first leg provisionally set for Glasgow, and the second leg to be played on August 14.

The Greek side ended Dundee United’s Europa League qualifying hopes in 2010, winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate.

Elsewhere in Monday’s draw, Salzburg entered the ‘Champions path’ and were paired with the winners of the second qualifying round tie between Macedonian side Shkendija and Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova.

The ‘League path’ saw six new teams coming into the competition.

Benfica were drawn against Fenerbahce, while Standard Liege face the winners of Ajax and Sturm Graz, Dymano Kiev will tackle Slavia Prague and Spartak Moscow meet either PAOK or Basel.

Celtic, who progressed through qualifying to reach the group stages of the Champions League last season, would not see their European hopes ended with defeat against Rosenborg. Rodgers’ side would then drop into the qualifying campaign for the Europa League.

The draw for the third qualifying round of the second-tier competition also took place.

Rangers face Osijek of Croatia in the second qualifying round and, should Steven Gerrard’s side progress, they would then meet the winners of Chikhura Sachkhere against Maribor.

Hibernian’s reward for seeing off Greek team Asteras Tripolis in round two would be a meeting with either Molde or Albanian team Lac.

Aberdeen take on Burnley with the first leg at Pittodrie this week.

Following yesterday’s draw in Nyon, the winners of that tie will go on to meet Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir in the third qualifying round.

Those games will be played on August 9 and 16, with the English or Scottish team away in the first leg.

The loser of the Celtic versus Rosenborg tie was handed a tie with League of Ireland Premier Division side Cork City.

Northern Ireland club Crusaders have a second-round tie against Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia. If they progress, then either BATE Borisov or HJK Helsinki will be next up in the third round.

Dundalk play AEK Larnaca and the winners of that tie will go on to face the losers of the Champions League qualifier between Ajax and Sturm Graz.

Picture: SNS Group. Celtic celebrate a goal as they cruised past Alashkert in their opening qualifier.

Picture: SNS Group. Brendan Rodgersnow knows victory over Rosenborg would set up a meeting with Greek side AEK Athens in the third qualifying round.