Monday, June 20, 2011

Europa League draw - 20th June

Fulham will face NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

The Cottagers were handed a place in the draw via the Fair Play League and the tie will represent a first competitive match in charge for new manager Martin Jol, appointed following Mark Hughes' resignation.
The ties will be played on 30th June and 7th July, the first leg set for west London although dates have yet to be officially confirmed.
Fulham were placed in Group Two and were handed a long trek to NSI who finished third in the Faroes Islands League last season. They currently sit fourth in the 2011 standings.
If the Cottagers win through they will face Northern Irish side Crusaders with the first leg in Belfast on 14th July and the return scheduled for Craven Cottage on 21st July.
It is a long road to the group stages of the Europa League, with potentially two more qualifying rounds before the play-off stage.
FA Cup winners Stoke City will enter in the third qualifying round while Carling Cup winners' Birmingham City and Tottenham, who finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League, go straight in at the play-off stage.
Fulham reached the Europa League final in 2010 losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.
If Jol's men are to reach the final again, they will have to play 23 matches in the competition.

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