Rodgers learns Celtic’s potential Champions League opponents

Mark Scott
Brendan Rodgers: Red Imps defeat was not a disaster

Brendan Rodgers: Watched Rod Stewart's Scottish Cup draw

Brendan Rodgers has found out which sides Celtic can face in the Champions League second-round qualifier with the first leg set for July 12.

Celtic have been drawn to face Flora Tallinn or Lincoln Red Imps and their first game will be on July 12-13, the week after their opponents are decided.

Lincoln reached the second qualifying round last season in Gibraltar’s second campaign in European competition, having lost to HB Torshavn of the Faroes on their debut.

They beat Santa Coloma of Andorra 2-1 on aggregate in their opening fixture before going out 3-0 on aggregate to Danish side Midtjylland, who went on to meet Manchester United in the last 32 of the Europa League.

The Red Imps have won 13 national titles in a row and their squad includes Lee Casciaro, who scored Gibraltar’s first competitive international goal in a 6-1 defeat to Scotland at Hampden last year.

Flora sit fourth in the Estonian league after 17 games of their season.

Their title success last year sees them return to Europe after a two-year absence. They lost to Albanian side Kukes in the first qualifying round of the Europa League on their last appearance and have only succeeded in one of their 20 encounters in European competition.

Their youth programme is acclaimed in Estonia having produced players including Dundee United striker Henri Anier.

Celtic had trickier potential opponents in the group of unseeded teams in their section of the draw, including Swedish champions IFK Norrkoping as well as two Irish teams.

Northern Ireland’s Premiership champions Crusaders were drawn out against Danish side Copenhagen while Dundalk will face HF Hafnarfjordur of Iceland.

Wales’ representatives, The New Saints, begin their campaign in the first round against Tre Penne of San Marino with a match against Apoel of Cyprus on offer for the winners.