Baltic clubs will learn their potential opponents in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League play-off rounds on Monday, with European heavyweights such as Benfica, AS Monaco, Brighton & Hove Albion and Ajax among the possible opponents.
The first draw gets underway at 13:00 Baltic time, when the UEFA Champions League play-off draw takes place. Should Kauno Žalgiris pull off a major upset against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb in the third qualifying round, they would face one of the following in the play-offs: Viking, LASK, the winner of Levski Sofia vs Kairat Almaty, the winner of AGF Aarhus vs Sabah, coached by Valdas Dambrauskas, or the winner of Ararat-Armenia vs Celje, the Slovenian club featuring Lithuanian internationals Armandas Kučys, Artemijus Tutyškinas and Pijus Širvys.
An hour later, at 14:00, the UEFA Europa League play-off draw follows. This draw is particularly relevant for Kauno Žalgiris if they lose to Dinamo Zagreb, as they would drop into the Europa League qualification path. The headline potential opponent is Portuguese giants Benfica, provided they first eliminate Scottish side Hearts. Other possible opponents include the winners of Maccabi Tel Aviv vs CSKA Sofia, Lech Poznan vs KI Klaksvik, and Hradec Kralove vs Besiktas.
The UEFA Conference League play-off draw begins at 15:00 Baltic time, with three Latvian clubs, two Estonian clubs and one Lithuanian club all hoping to book their place in the final qualifying round.
The toughest possible draw belongs to FK Auda. If the Latvian side eliminate Dinamo City of Albania, they could be paired with Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion or Ligue 1 club AS Monaco. Other potential opponents include the winners of Bohemians vs Midtjylland, IFK Goteborg vs Gent, where former Auda forward Josue Vergara now plays, or the loser of the Red Bull Salzburg vs Pafos tie.
RFS could also be handed a reunion with Ajax if they overcome Czech side Jablonec. Both RFS and Žalgiris Vilnius are in the same unseeded subgroup, meaning their possible opponents include the winners of Ajax vs Shelbourne, Rangers vs Jagiellonia, Debrecen vs Copenhagen, Rakow Czestochowa vs Hammarby, as well as the loser of PAOK vs Anderlecht.
Among the Main Path clubs, Paide Linnameeskond are the only seeded Baltic side. If they can upset Rapid Wien, they could face the winners of Hapoel Tel Aviv vs GKS Katowice, HJK Helsinki vs Motherwell, Valur vs Nordsjaelland, or the losers of Benfica vs Hearts and Besiktas vs Hradec Kralove.
In the Champions Path, there is even the possibility of an all-Baltic play-off. Should Riga FC eliminate Hungarian champions Gyor and Flora Tallinn overcome Inter Club d’Escaldes, the two clubs could be drawn against each other. Riga FC’s other potential opponents are the losers of Lech Poznan vs KI Klaksvik and Larne vs Iberia 1999, while Flora could also face the loser of Lincoln Red Imps vs Omonia or the winner of Tre Fiori vs Drita.
