UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Champions League second qualifying round guide

Former champions Celtic and fellow 2016/17 group contenders København, Ludogorets Razgrad and Legia Warzawa are among the sides entering in the second qualifying round this week.

Celtic faced Barcelona in the group stage last seasob
Celtic faced Barcelona in the group stage last seasob ©AFP/Getty Images

Former European Cup winners and past UEFA Champions League contenders are among the teams starting their campaigns this week in the second qualifying round.

The last five places were filled on Tuesday when the first qualifying round ended and among the winners were Northern Ireland's Linfield. who will host 1967 European champions Celtic in an opening leg moved to Friday.

Legia made it to the group stage last season
Legia made it to the group stage last season©Getty Images

Celtic made it to the group stage last season, as did several of the clubs entering the fray on Wednesday – København, Ludogorets Razgrad and Legia Warzawa. APOEL, quarter-finalists in 2011/12, are also in action then against Dudelange.

Proceedings begin on Tuesday with competition debutants Samtredia of Georgia visiting Azerbaijan's Qarabağ. Also involved are Rijeka after ending Dinamo Zagreb's run of 11 straight Croatian titles. Rijeka, who reached the UEFA Europa League group stage in 2013/14 and 2014/15, will hope for better luck than in their only previous UEFA Champions League tie, a 6-1 aggregate loss to Partizan in 1999/2000.

Before the second legs are played next week, the teams will know their potential opponents as the third qualifying round draw is made at 12:00CET on Friday. All 17 second qualifying round winners go into the champions route alongside three teams given byes, from which five group spots will eventually be filled.

  • At a glance

Competiton debutants in action: IFK Mariehamn, Kukës, Samtredia, Spartaks Jūrmala

Former group stage contenders: APOEL (most recent 2014/15), Astana (2015/16), BATE Borisov (2015/16), Celtic (2016/17), København (2016/17), Legia Warszawa (2016/17), Ludogorets Razgrad (2016/17), Maribor (2014/15), Malmö (2015/16), Partizan (2010/11), Rosenborg (2007/08), Salzburg (1994/95), Žilina (2010/11)

  • The ties
Hibernians were one of five first qualifying round winners
Hibernians were one of five first qualifying round winners©Domenic Aquilina

First-leg schedule
Tuesday
Qarabağ (AZE) v Samtredia (GEO)
Hibernians (MLT) v Salzburg (AUT)
Rijeka (CRO) v The New Saints (WAL)
Partizan (SRB) v Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)

Wednesday
Spartaks Jūrmala (LVA) v Astana (KAZ)
Zrinjski (BIH) v Maribor (SVN)
Malmö (SWE) v Vardar (MKD)
Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) v Honvéd (HUN)
Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) v Kukës (ALB)
APOEL (CYP) v Dudelange (LUX)
BATE Borisov (BLR) v Alashkert (ARM)
IFK Mariehamn (FIN) v Legia Warszawa (POL)
Žalgiris (LTU) v Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)
Žilina (SVK) v København (DEN)
Dundalk (IRL) v Rosenborg (NOR)
FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) v Víkingur (FRO)

Friday
Linfield (NIR) v Celtic (SCO)

ROAD TO KYIV: FULL 2017/18 SEASON CALENDAR