'Rhylly' thrilling clash with Partizan in Champions League

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NYON, Switzerland, June 22, 2009 (AFP) - Rhyl from the Welsh league face an uphill battle against Serbian big-hitters, Partizan Belgrade when the teams meet in the early stages of next season's Champions League, the sport's European governing body UEFA announced here on Monday.

The Belgrade-based Serbian champions will travel to the Principality to play the semi-amateur side next month, on a date to be finalized.

Should the 2004 Welsh league champions manage to beat the Serbs, they would be guaranteed a place in the Europa League play-offs regardless of their Champions League survival prospects.

The Partizan squad will almost certainly include 17-year-old attacking midfielder Adem Ljajic who is to join Manchester United in January next year.

Meanwhile Northern Irish side Glentoran will be flying to Israel for a daunting match against Maccabi Haifa, while the Ulstermen's hospitality will be tested in the other direction when the Israelis arrive in Belfast next month, amid other fixtures in Monday's list.

Seventeen second qualifying round winners will be joined by Greek giants Olympiakos, Slavia Prague and FC Zurich in the next stage on a path that will eventually see five sides make it through to the final 32.

Celtic and Arsenal are among a further 15 clubs who will be battling it out in another section, with five making it through to join the 22 teams already confirmed in the group stages, including holders Barcelona, Liverpool, semi-finalists Chelsea - who Barca beat controversially - and 2009 finalists Manchester United.

1st rd

First leg: June 30,July 1

Second leg: July 7,8

Sant Julia (AND) v Tre Fiori (SMR)

Hibernians (MLT) v Mogren (MNE)

2nd rd:

First leg: July 14,15

Second leg: July 21,22

Tirana (ALB) v Stabaek (NOR)

Georgia (GEO) v Maribor (SVN)

Streymur (FRO) v APOEL (CYP)

Kobenhavn (DEN) v Winner Match 2

Debreceni (HUN) v Kalmar (SWE)

Makedonija GP Skopje (MKD) v BATE Borisov (BLR)

Hafnarfjordur (ISL) v Aktobe (KAZ)

Pyunik (ARM) v Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)

Ventspils (LVA) v F91 Dudelange (LUX)

Ekranas (LTU) v Baki (AZE)

Salzburg (AUT) v Bohemian (IRL)

Zrinjski (BIH) v Slovan Bratislava (SVK)

International Turku (FIN) v Sheriff (MDA)

Rhyl FC (WAL) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB)

Wisla Krakow (POL) v Levadia Tallinn (EST)

Levski Sofia (BUL) v Winner Match 1

Maccabi Haifa (ISR) v Glentoran FC (NIR)

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