Lowdownon Motherwell’s UECLdraw
Motherwell will soon be able to start planning for their Europa Conference League adventure this summer.
The Steelmen and their fans are waiting with eager anticipation for the new season which will begin at the second qualifying round in UEFA’s newest competition.
It was secured via a fifth place finish in last season’s Premiership campaign, with the new one getting underway next month too.
But all eyes are on Europe for now as Fir Park gets set to welcome continental football for the first time since 2020, and a first in front of fans in eight years.
Here’s all you need to know about what might await Motherwell in the Europa Conference League:
When are the matches?
Motherwell’s campaign will begin on the July 21, with the second leg July 28. When is the draw?
It takes place today (Wednesday), a day after the competition’s first qualifying round draw.They’ll already know their potential third round opponents by the time action kicks off, with that draw taking place on July 18. Where can I watch the draw? Information on this isn’t currently available but routinely, most UEFA draws have been streamed via their dedicated Europa Conference League section of their website.
Who’s a favourable tie?
Graham Alexander’s men are seeded for this round but he will be keen to emphasise that tough assignments still potentially lie in wait for his team.
That said, there are some in the unseeded section that could put‘Well as favourites to reach the third round.
Racing Union of Luxembourg have never been in a second qualifying round tie before, and have lost their three first round qualifiers across European competitions by an aggregate score of 17-3.
FK Makedonija Gjorce Petrov, KF Vllaznia Shkodër and St Patrick’s Athletic have the lowest club coefficient of any of the teams‘Well can land.
There are also potential trips to Gibraltar and Faroe Islands, depending on how the first round qualifiers go. Who’s a tricky tie?
The cliché every game is difficult trope could be applied but there are some noticeably harder tasks on offer for Motherwell, potentially.
AIK are currently second in Sweden’s top flight after seven wins from their first 11 matches, and would be a tough ask for Alexander’s team.
Lillestrom meanwhile currently lead Norway’s Eliteserien andViking, two places behind them, are the unseeded side with the highest coefficient.
Then there’s Konyaspor ofTurkey after their third-placed Super Lig finish.
Win in any of these scenarios though, and‘Well could welcome big European clubs like Anderlecht, Basel and AZ Alkmaar to ML1 in the next round.