Derbies add spice to play-off draw

Several clubs will have to overcome teams from neighbouring countries after the draw for the UEFA Champions League play-off round was conducted in Nyon.

Two-time UEFA Cup winners Sevilla FC face an Iberian derby against SC Braga, who eliminated Celtic FC in their maiden match in Europe's top club competition. That meeting takes place in the League Route while in the Champions Route, Norwegian titleholders Rosenborg BK take on Danish counterparts FC København and old ties will be renewed when Czech side AC Sparta Praha meet Slovakia's MŠK Žilina.

Other eye-catching ties include four-time European Champion Clubs' Cup winners AFC Ajax meeting FC Dynamo Kyiv and SV Werder Bremen taking on 1992 runners-up UC Sampdoria. Tottenham Hotspur FC will make their UEFA Champions League debut against BSC Young Boys, who won 1-0 in Istanbul to knock out Fenerbahçe SK on Wednesday.

The fixtures have already been announced, with the first legs to be held on 17/18 August and the returns a week later. The ten winners will join the 22 automatic entrants in the UEFA Champions League group stage, the draw for which is held in Monaco at 18.00CET on 26 August. The losers will take part in the UEFA Europa League group stage.