The UEFA Europa League third qualifying round draw took place today, and Latvian champions FC RFS now know their potential opponents — depending on the outcome of their current UEFA Champions League campaign.
Before anything is set in stone, RFS must first face Swedish champions Malmö FF in the Champions League second qualifying round. However, should the Latvian side fall short over two legs, their European journey will continue in the Europa League — and the draw has already mapped out what lies ahead.
If RFS are eliminated by Malmö, they will face the losers of another Champions League second-round tie — between Finnish champions KuPS and Kazakhstan’s title holders Kairat Almaty — in the Europa League third qualifying round.
Both KuPS and Kairat are coming off tightly contested first-round ties. KuPS barely squeezed past Moldovan side Milsami with a narrow 1–0 aggregate win, while Kairat pulled off a notable upset by eliminating Slovenian champions Olimpija Ljubljana 3–1 on aggregate.
Progressing past the third qualifying round of the Europa League would guarantee RFS at least a spot in the UEFA Conference League league phase. Meanwhile, the losing side would drop into the Conference League play-off round for one final chance at European main stage football.
Earlier today we got to know that the winner of the Malmö FF vs. RFS Champions League tie will face the winner of the FC Copenhagen vs. FC Drita match-up in the third qualifying round of the Champions League
