In some methods the purest type of the Champions League begins this week.
It’s only 38 days since on the Allianz Area in entrance of the eyes of the world – however the vibe could be very completely different as the brand new marketing campaign kicks off.
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The primary qualifying spherical begins on Tuesday at 16:00 BST in Kuopio, Finland, with 28 groups – all of them champions of their nation – in motion this week.
There could also be no Champions League anthem earlier than video games and golf equipment simply use their very own balls however it’s the Champions League nonetheless – together with Virtus, from San Marino, who’re eight video games away from the league section.
Solely Liechtenstein, who should not have a league, and Russia, who stay banned due to the struggle with Ukraine, don’t get no less than one Champions League spot.
It’s a lengthy street to the 2026 closing in Budapest in 326 days’ time, though it’s seemingly each membership kicking off this week will probably be footnotes by then.
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BBC Sport has a take a look at a number of the tales, groups and ties concerned this week.
Might somebody go all the way in which?
Solely 10 groups managed to go during from the primary spherical of Champions League qualifying to the group or league section – together with Slovan Bratislava final yr.
Slovan acquired previous Struga, Celje, Apoel and Midtjylland… earlier than dropping all eight league video games.
However simply getting there meant they earned greater than £15m. And their 16 matches performed have been just one fewer than champions PSG.
If a group went during to the ultimate they might find yourself enjoying 25 Champions League video games (a path that requires them that includes within the the knockout section play-offs).
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Just one group have reached the knockout levels after beginning within the very first spherical – Liverpool in 2005-06.
The Reds have been , however completed fifth within the Premier League – and again then the holders didn’t mechanically qualify. Uefa gave them particular dispensation, however they needed to begin within the first spherical of qualifying.
They acquired by three rounds of qualifying (because it was again then) – beating TNS, FBK Kaunas and CSKA Sofia – and received their group earlier than a last-16 exit.
Slovan Bratislava began at this stage final season and reached the league section the place they misplaced to Celtic, Manchester Metropolis and 6 different groups [Getty Images]
The 552nd greatest group
Virtus, champions of San Marino, are the lowest-ranked group within the draw by far.
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All of their gamers and workers produce other jobs.
Uefa’s 10-year membership coefficients ranks them 552nd (out of 554 groups), a listing that solely contains groups who’ve performed in Europe over that time period.
Final season was their debut in Europe, as they misplaced 11-1 to Romanian aspect FCSB on this spherical.
A second consecutive league title has them competing once more – this time towards Bosnian champions Zrinjski Mostar.
However the membership settle for they’ve little or no probability of advancing and see it as a privilege to be concerned. For one factor no Sammarinese group have ever received a Champions League tie.
As an alternative they’re assured of competing effectively within the Convention League third qualifying spherical, which the losers of this sport will drop into.
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Membership president Pier Domenico Giulianelli stated: “That is our second time within the Champions League, and we’re certain that the expertise final yr will probably be helpful.
“We all know these will probably be two very powerful matches, however I am assured the boys will give their all on the pitch.”
The membership predict about 1,000 followers on the San Marino Stadium in Serravalle, with about three-quarters of them coming from Bosnia. They often get 50-100 folks at their house video games.
Their solely San Marino worldwide is Alessandro Golinucci, who captained the nation to their well-known win over Liechtenstein final September which ended a 20-year run and not using a victory.
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The brand new boys
Noah performed eventual Convention League winners Chelsea within the league section final season, dropping 8-0 – however they did choose up 4 factors from six video games [Getty Images]
The one Champions League debutants within the first spherical of qualifying are Armenian aspect FC Noah.
Final season they went by each spherical of Convention League qualifying earlier than reaching the league section, the place they
The Yerevan aspect, who have been solely shaped eight years in the past and named after the spiritual determine Noah, are a group making an attempt to get locations rapidly underneath proprietor Vardges Vardanyan.
They signed 16 gamers final summer season and a brand new supervisor in Rui Mota. They went on to win the league and cup double.
Portuguese Mota left for Ludogorets (extra on them in a bit) this summer season, with 41-year-old Croatian Sandro Perkovic taking his place.
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Membership improvement director Anna Ohanyan instructed BBC Sport: “Collaborating within the Champions League qualifiers is a historic second for FC Noah.
“Simply two seasons after the brand new administration stepped in, we managed to qualify for the league section of a European competitors, turned champions of Armenia, received the Armenian Cup – and now right here we’re within the first qualifying spherical of the Champions League. That is solely the start.
“We fought arduous to win the Armenian championship as a result of we have now greater ambitions for ourselves and for Armenian soccer. This qualification provides us an opportunity to indicate that ambition to the entire of Europe.”
They play Montenegrin aspect Buducnost Podgorica.
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Cypriot aspect Pafos FC, who enter on the second-round stage – the place they play Maccabi Tel Aviv – are additionally within the competitors for the primary time.
The regulars
Bulgarian champions Ludogorets are within the first spherical of qualifying for the eighth consecutive yr.
For six years earlier than that they entered within the second qualifying spherical – underneath an previous system the place the primary spherical solely concerned a handful of groups.
So their 14 consecutive league titles have meant 14 years of Champions League qualifying.
Twice they reached the teams: in 2014-15, the place they earned , and 2016-17.
In 2009 they have been an newbie third-tier group, who had by no means been within the high flight.
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The next yr pharmaceutical multi-millionaire Kiril Domuschiev took them over, they received instant promotion and have received the title in every top-flight season they’ve ever performed in.
This yr they tackle Belarusian aspect Dinamo Minsk.
From the archive (2014): Amateurs to Anfield in 4 yearsThe derbies
Shelbourne (pictured towards Deportivo La Coruna in 2004) have been Champions League qualifying regulars within the early 2000s however have needed to wait 20 years to return [Getty Images]
There are two derbies between groups from neighbouring nations within the first qualifying spherical.
Dublin aspect Shelbourne and Belfast membership Linfield meet in a rematch of the 2005 Setanta Sports activities Cup, the previous competitors between the champions of the Republic of Eire and Northern Eire.
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That was additionally the final yr Shels have been within the Champions League till now – with a younger Wes Hoolahan within the group.
They go into the sport with a brand new supervisor in former West Ham defender Joey O’Brien after
Linfield, as 57-time champions of Northern Eire, are regulars at this stage. They’re additionally managed by an ex-Premier League participant, with former Leeds, Preston and Sunderland striker David Healy on the helm.
Their respective grounds are lower than a two-hour drive aside – which for Shelbourne is a shorter journey than some league video games. Nevertheless, they’ve to remain in Belfast the evening earlier than the sport due to pre-match media obligations.
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Each legs of that tie will probably be stay on the BBC Sport web site and iPlayer.
The opposite derby is between Levadia Tallinn of Estonia and Latvian aspect RFS (which as soon as stood for Riga Soccer College however is now their title).
They might meet once more later this yr if the irregularly held Livonian Cup – between the champions of Estonia and Latvia is performed once more.
Paulius Jakelis, head of selling and communications at RFS, instructed BBC Sport: “From a journey perspective, it is superb – only a four-hour bus trip and we’re there.
“It means minimal journey prices, easier planning and logistics, and far simpler entry for our followers.”
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How concerning the British groups?
Perennial Welsh champions TNS, who play their house video games in England, play Shkendija of North Macedonia.
Neutrals will hope it’s half as dramatic as once they met at this stage in 2018 with Shkendija successful 5-4 on combination. The Macedonians received 5-0 at house, with TNS falling simply brief within the second leg in Oswestry’s Park Corridor with a 4-0 win.
Lincoln Crimson Imps, champions of British Abroad Territory Gibraltar – the second lowest-ranked league – face Faroese aspect Vikingur.
Amongst their squad is 43-year-old Lee Casciaro, who has been with the membership since 1998, and scored towards Celtic in a shock first-leg win in 2016.
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Talking of Glasgow groups, Rangers enter the Champions League on the second qualifying spherical towards Panathinaikos. Celtic begin off on the play-off spherical.
England’s six representatives – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis, Newcastle and Tottenham – go straight into the league section.
What subsequent for the losers?
The groups who lose this spherical should not out of Europe fully – dropping into the Convention League qualifiers.
Most would go into the second spherical of the Convention League however a random draw picked two ties whose losers would go into the third spherical.
San Marino membership Virtus and Gibraltar’s Lincoln Crimson Imps are concerned in these two video games – which means they might be solely two rounds away from the Convention League group stage.
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Groups who lose within the second spherical of Champions League qualifying would go into the third qualifying spherical of the Europa League by the way in which, and never the Convention League.
Beginning within the league section, watch highlights of each Champions League sport from 22:00 BST on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport web site and app.
There will even be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday nights.
Watch highlights of each Champions League sport from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport web site and app.
There will even be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.