Clubs from Malta and Andorra live the European dream
Friday, July 18, 2025
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The first qualifying rounds of the three men's club competitions have delivered underdog upsets, emotional celebrations and the longest penalty shoot-out in UEFA Champions League history.
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From Iceland's Víkingur to Aris Limassol in Cyprus, each of the 150-plus clubs on the starting grid of the 2025/26 men's club competitions this month have one thing in common: the dream of European glory.
The qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League may come early in the season but, for players and fans of Europe's less heralded clubs, taking part in a European matchday is already cause for celebration.
"Clubs from all of our 55 member associations must have a chance to test themselves in the world's premier club competitions while offering their fans a truly international adventure."
First for Malta
Ask Hamrun Spartans, who have not only become the first club from Malta to reach the second round of Champions League qualifying, but did so by coming through the longest penalty shoot-out in the competition's history: a nail-biting 11-10 win against Žalgiris that featured 28 spot kicks.
Their defeated opponents know all about breaking new ground in European competition having become the first team from Lithuania to reach a UEFA competition group stage in 2023.
Hamrun can now look forward to welcoming Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv to the Centenary Stadium on 22 July for the first leg of their historic second qualifying round tie.
Double delight for Andorra
Despite losing over two legs, supporters of Andorra's Inter Escaldes will never forget the dramatic 88th-minute winner that sealed a 2-1 win against Romanian former European champions FCSB.
They were not the only Andorran fans celebrating after two representatives of the tiny mountain state advanced to the second qualifying rounds of UEFA club competitions. Atlètic Escaldes, recorded a statement 3-2 victory away to Luxembourg club Diddeleng in the Conference League, while FC Santa Coloma held on to a 4-3 aggregate lead despite losing their second leg match with Borac from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Further north, Runavík of the Faroe Islands and Finland's HJK combined to deliver enough drama to last a full season. Runavík stormed to a shock 4-0 first-leg victory, only for HJK to stage a miracle comeback, winning the return leg 5-0 after extra time.
Slovenian side Celje progressed into the Europa League second qualifying round in similarly dramatic style thanks to a thrilling 6-5 aggregate success against Azerbaijan's Sabah. A seesaw second leg featured six goals, a hat-trick and extra time.
How UEFA's competitions strengthen club football across Europe
The new format for our men's club competitions has not only delivered added dynamism and drama, but given more teams more chances to test themselves against the continent's best and take on a wider variety of opponents.
In July and August, more than 400 qualifying round matches will help determine the final line-ups for the league phases of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.