With all the talk of Europe, it's kind of fitting that the first round of the Champion's League begins on Tuesday night. Ties are as follows: 1.Flora Tallin (EST) vs Lincoln Red Imps (GIB) 2. TNS (WAL) vs Tre Penne (SMR) 3. Valetta (MAL) vs B36 Torshavn (FRO) 4. FC Santa Coloma (AND) vs Alashkert (ARM) The winners of match 1 will play Celtic, winners of match 2 will play APOEL, winners of match 3 will play Red Star Belgrade and the winners of match 4 will face Dinamo Tblisi. I think I speak for all of us when I say, come on the White Tigers!
B36 lost 1-0. Balls. In other news, in the Europa League Aberdeen won 3-1 against Fola Esch of Luxembourg (the time was level at 1-1 at one point) and Hearts had to come from behind to beat FC Infonet of Estonia. Which I can only assume is some sort of broadband company. The bloke watching the game is obviously easily impressed... Former Hearts midfielder and BBC Scotland pundit Allan Preston: "Hearts have been really rusty, which is to be expected, but Infonet have played really well and caused Hearts lots of problems going forward. It is going to be a tough ask for them in Estonia next week. This team are technically very gifted - they can certainly play."
2nd leg last night. Result The Penne 0 TNS(wales) 3. TNS win 5-1 on aggregate, More Welsh footballing success. Same again tonight please Wales.
So, somehow Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar have beaten Flora Tallin (Estonian Champions) and will now play Celtic on the 12th July. **** I love football sometimes. B36 Torshavn lost on away goals to Valetta, despite beating them 2-1 at home. Never mind. Other British teams involved in the next round are as follows: The New Saints (WAL) vs APOEL (CYP) Dundalk (IRE) vs FH (ICE) Crusaders (NIR) vs FC Copenhagen I can't see any of the British teams bar Celtic getting through this one.
So, after Celtic's embarrassment, the Europa League kicks off tonight again and the Scottish teams face tougher opposition than their champions did. Hearts face Birkirkara of Malta, while Aberdeen play Ventspils of Latvia. Hibernian have an unenviable match against former Swedish champions Brondby. The only Welsh team left in the competition, part timers GAP Connah's Quay, have just kicked off against Serbian side FK Vojvodina. Finally, North Belfast based side Cliftonville face a big ask as they prepare to take on AEK Larnaka.
They're a decent side and given the dross that are in that round, they could've done with an easier tie.
Ever since BT Sport got the coverage of this I've lost interest, am hoping their sport coverage goes the way of On Digital or whatever it was called back in the day and games will end up back on Sky at the very worst
