Europa League: Finn Hodge?

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson may be have to apply some of his knowledge of Finnish football, as the West London side discovered their possible opponents for the Third Qualifing Round of the UEFA Europa League.

They have been drawn against either FK Vetra of Lithuania or HJK Helsinki of Finland. HJK have a 1-0 advantage over Vetra going into next week’s second qualifying round second leg at home.

Fulham, seeded in Group 7, qualified for the competition, which replaces the Uefa Cup, by finishing seventh in last season’s Premier League.

The Cottagers will be playing in Europe for the first time in seven years, when they won the Intertoto Cup.

If HJK prevail over Vetra, it will mean a return to Finland for Fulham boss Roy Hodgson. He was manager of the Finnish national team for just over two years (2005-2007), before he took up the post at Fulham, famously avoiding relegation, and now getting into Europe.

The away leg will take place on Thursday, 30 July, with the home leg on Thursday, 6 August. The winners advance to a play-off round when a further 41 teams enter.

Meanwhille, Celtic will be playing Dinamo Moscow in for the right to advance to the next round of non-champion qualifiers for the Champions League.