Fenerbahçe to face Monaco in Champions League qualifier

NYON

The draws for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round were made in Nyon on July 15, with Turkey’s Fenerbahçe drawing Monaco. 

The first game will be played in Istanbul on July 26 or 27 and the return match will be in Monaco on Aug. 2 or 3. 

Fenerbahçe will advance to the playoffs necessary to play in the UEFA Champions League if it qualifies and transfer to the UEFA Europa League playoff round if it loses. 

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk has been drawn to play the BSC Young Boys, while Russian club Rostov will face Anderlecht.

Shakhtar and Rostov were kept apart by a UEFA rule blocking teams from Ukraine and Russia being drawn to play each other.

Also, four-time champion Ajax was paired with PAOK Thessaloniki and Sparta Prague will face Steaua Bucharest.

The first legs will be played on July 26-27, and return matches on Aug. 2-3.

In the qualifying draw for national champions, Olympiakos drew either Sheriff Tiraspol or Hapoel Beer-Sheva. Sheriff and Hapoel will complete a second round series next week.

The winners advance to the playoff round, which will decide the final 10 places in the 32-team group stage.