The European Cups are back. What to watch this week?

One month after the Champions League final, the most prestigious club competition returns to Europe. The first preliminary rounds of Europe’s most prestigious club competition and the Conference League begin on Tuesday. What shouldn’t you miss?

Slovan Bratislava vs. Heaperange

Due to the low coefficient, Slovan Bratislava starts in the first preliminary round. After last year’s progress to the Conference League 8 finals, the motivation this year is to get at least one competition higher. And preferably to the Champions League.

The first opponent will be the seemingly innocuous Luxembourg champions. But as the Euro qualifiers have already shown, football there is on the up. And with all due credit to Slovan’s success last year, Slovakian teams have often fallen out with the minnows in recent years.

Astana vs. Dinamo Tbilisi

You’re probably wondering, what the hell kind of game is this? But you have to look at the popularity of football in both countries. Kazakhstan is realistically in contention to qualify for the European Championships, and Astana has plenty of experience in European Cups.

I don’t think we need to go into Georgia at length. They were unlucky to go out on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Euro 11, and had not lost to the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal until then. The A-team, which plans to go to at least the European Championship barrage, is also on the rise.

Both national teams are well represented in Astana and Dinamo respectively. The winning team will be only one more promotion away from Conference League certainty. And as Basel showed this year, anything can happen in the new competition.

Ballkani vs. Ludogorets

For the third time, the Champions League, this time probably the strongest pair. Ballkani showed up against Slavia in the Conference League last year, Ludogorets fought AS Roma or Betis in the Europa League, and also has numerous Champions League experiences. The loser will face three tough Conference League preliminary rounds.

Dunajská Streda vs. Dila Gori

I have already mentioned the rise of Georgian football, so the confrontation between Dunajská Streda and Dila Gori will be interesting. The Slovakian side has several players we may know from Plzen, plus they are led by former Viktoria coach Adrian Guľa.

Source: UEFA