The draw for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League has been completed, and several Baltic clubs now know their potential next opponents—should they progress from the second round.
Riga FC, the only Latvian club still in the Conference League, is set to face Georgian side Dila Gori in the second round. Should they advance, Riga FC will meet the winner of the tie between Beitar Jerusalem (Israel) and Sutjeska (Montenegro). On paper, this draw is one of the most favorable outcomes for Riga. Beitar Jerusalem has lost its last seven European matches, last winning a tie or match in the 2017/18 season against Hungary’s Vasas. Sutjeska, meanwhile, scraped past belarusian side Dynamo Brest 2–1 on aggregate in the first round.
Over in Estonia, Nõmme Kalju could potentially welcome European giants in the third round. The loser of the UEFA Europa League tie between Shakhtar Donetsk and Beşiktaş will face the winner of Kalju’s clash with Shamrock Rovers (Ireland).
Paide Linnameeskond has a tough task ahead against Swedish side AIK in the second round. If they pull off an upset, they could meet either Hungarian club Győr or Armenia’s Pyunik Yerevan, the latter featuring Lithuanian winger Matas Vareika.
In the Champions Path, FCI Levadia Tallinn, who are set to face Georgian champions Iberia 1999, will take on the winner of The New Saints (Wales) vs. Differdange 03 (Luxembourg) if they advance to the third round.
Lithuanian clubs, meanwhile, experienced mixed fortunes in the draw. FK Kauno Žalgiris, current leaders of the A Lyga, drew a favorable matchup against either HJK Helsinki or Bulgaria’s Arda Kardzhali, should they get past Valur Reykjavik. Notably, Valur already ended the European campaign of another Baltic side, Flora Tallinn, in the previous round.
FK Banga Gargždai, facing the daunting task of eliminating former Norwegian heavyweights Rosenborg BK, would face either Charleroi (Belgium) or Hammarby (Sweden) in the third round—both formidable opponents.
Lastly, Lithuanian champions FK Žalgiris, who heartbreakingly exited the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, will meet Vikingur, the champions of the Faroe Islands, in the Conference League third round.
The first legs of the second qualifying round are set to take place this Thursday, with the return legs scheduled for the following Thursday.
