Atletico Madrid are one of five possible opponents for Shamrock Rovers in the draw for the Europa League play-off round, which takes place at Uefa headquarters in Switzerland this afternoon.
The Airtricity League champions were knocked out of the Champions League by FC Copenhagen earlier this week but still have a chance of becoming the first Irish side to reach the group stages of European competition in the Europa version.
However, they are guaranteed to face a difficult assignment having been included among the unseeded sides in the draw.
Atletico Madrid, now without Sergio Aguero but still with Diego Forlan (pictured), are the plum draw among their possible opponents, although it is also one that would appear to limit Rovers’ chances of progressing to the Europa League proper.
The other seeded sides in Rovers’ section are Panathinaikos of Greece, Turkey’s Besiktas, Partizan Belgrade from Serbia and Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv.
The draw takes place at 12.30pm and you can read more as soon as some of Uefa’s ageing suits pop their balls.
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