Hearts to learn Euro fate as Nyon draw looms

HEARTS will find out who will provide the opposition for their maiden venture into the Champions League when the draws for the opening two qualifying rounds are made in Nyon today.

The Tynecastle side, who earned the right to qualify for Europe's premier competition by virtue of a second-placed finish in the SPL last season, will enter at the second qualifying stage where they will be among the 14 seeded teams.

However, UEFA last night confirmed that there will be no regionalisation in the Champions League, meaning they could face a potentially hazardous trip to outposts such as Kazakhstan, Macedonia or Albania.

The first qualifying round involves 22 teams and the 11 winners from those two-legged fixtures join three sides from the next round - Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Republic, Austria Salzburg and Slovaks MFK Ruzomberok - in the uneseeded list of 14 as potential opponents for Hearts.

The 22 first round sides are: NK Gorica (Slovakia), Apollon Limassol (Cyprus), NK Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia-Herzegovina), FHK Leipajas Metalurgs (Latvia), MY-PA 47 (Finland), FC Sheriff (Moldova), Sioni Bolnisi (Georgia), FK Ekranas (Lithuania), Hafnarfjordur (Iceland), FK Rabotnicki (Macedonia), Cork City (Ire), Shakhtyor Soligorsk (Belarus), FC Pyuinik (Armenia), Birkarkara (Malta), KS Elbasani (Albania), FC Tallinn (Estonia), Linfield (N.Ire), TNS (Wales), F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg), FK Baku (Azerbaijan), Torshavn (Faroe Islands), FK Aktobe (Kazakhstan).

While earning a seeding has ensured Hearts will avoid the likes of Steaua Bucharest, Dynamo Kiev and Fenerbahce, the Gorgie outfit are almost certain to face a more formidable side if they reach the third qualifying round.

Taken from the Scotsman