Sports

Liverpool Face Hoffenheim in Champions League Playoff

43

Liverpool will have to overcome Hoffenheim in a two-legged playoff to reach the group stages of the Champions League.

The draw was made in Nyon on Friday with Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino’s former club Hoffenheim, who finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, drawing Jurgen Klopp’s side out of the hat.

Liverpool, last winners of the Champions League in 2005, will be hoping to feature in the group stage for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

The first leg will be played at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Aug. 15, with the return fixture at Anfield scheduled for Aug. 22 or 23.

Full draw:

Istanbul Basaksehir vs. Sevilla
Young Boys vs. CSKA Moscow
Napoli vs. Nice
Hoffenheim vs. Liverpool
Sporting Lisbon vs. FCSB
Qarabag vs. Copenhagen
Apoel Nicosia vs. Slavia Prague
Olympiakos vs. Rijeka
Celtic vs. Astana
Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs. Maribor

Last season saw Liverpool finish in the Premier League’s top four for only the second time in eight seasons.

Hoffenheim head coach Julian Nagelsmann admits his side face a real challenge in qualifying for the group stage but he is excited about taking on the Premier League side.

“It’s indeed a tough draw, but there wasn’t really one easy draw,” he told Hoffenheim’s official website. “We can play against a great opponent in a legendary stadium. It’s something special.

“Only this morning, I said that if you want to win the trophy you have to beat every opponent and so we also need to come out on top against Liverpool. I had a feeling it would be Liverpool and I think it’s a great thing for both our fans and the media.

Klopp talks to players vs Atleti 170802
Liverpool will be hoping to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
“Jurgen Klopp is back in Germany. I believe they would not have necessarily picked us as their opponents. We will give it our all to progress. Liverpool are an outstanding team. I already have an idea how we can achieve something, but we still need to see a couple of matches to work out a plan.”

Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen added: “We are incredibly happy, that’s something special. I was anxious before the draw. It’s a great challenge, but we are just delighted to take part in it.

“Jurgen Klopp will be here, and Firmino returns. All of that turns a great situation into an absolutely special one. Our ambition will know no bounds. We will surely compete to reach the group stages.”

Speaking in Munich earlier this week, Klopp attempted to play down the tie by saying: “We don’t have to make it any bigger than it is. In one-and-a-half weeks we’re starting against Watford, we can’t forget that.”

Among the other fixtures from the League side of the draw is Napoli’s tie against Nice, which will see Mario Balotelli return to Italy with his French side, while Sevilla take on Istanbul Basaksehir.

In the Champions section of the draw, Scottish club Celtic were drawn against Kazakh side Astana.

Celtic’s reward for their third qualifying round victory over Rosenborg of Norway is to once again make the near 8,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan.

Brendan Rodgers’ side played Astana in the Champions League last season, drawing 1-1 in Kazakhstan before winning the return game 2-1.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Legia Fans Set Policeman On Fire, Injure Three Others

Legia football fans set a police officer on fire and injured three...

Onana blunders, leaves Man-U’s European aspiration in jeopardy

Manchester United’s struggles in Europe dipped further as they blew a two-goal...

Night of thrills and anguish in day one of match day five of UCL

A rejuvenated Manchester City in the second half and a controversial extra...

Why I stopped watching Nigeria’s national team’s matches – Enyeama

Ex-Nigerian goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has disclosed the reasons behind his decision to...

Super Eagles make history for ‘wrong reason’ after a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe

Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ wings were clipped in Rwanda, and for the first...

International friendly: Saudi Arabia, Super Eagles play out 2-2 in Portugal

Super Eagles shambolic defensive display gave Roberto Mancini his first point as...

Centenary FIFA 2030 World Cup to be hosted across three continents, six countries

The world football ruling body, FIFA, is set to unite the world...

Nigeria loses joint bid with Benin Republic to host AFCON 2027

Nigeria has lost the joint bid with Benin Republic to host the...

AFCON 2023 draw: Super Eagles in Pot 2, may face host Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal

Ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nations which is set to...

Super Eagles drop in latest FIFA ranking despite emphatic display in Uyo

Despite walloping Sao Tome and Principe six goals in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State,...

Champions League Round Up: 23 goals in opening night, Barcelona, holders Man City among top winners

It was an amazing opening night of Champions League football, holders Manchester...

28 Nigerian clubs to feature in SPOCS global tournament — Opanuga

Nationwide Division One League one (NLO) side, SGFC Athletics Sports Club, will...

Sao Tome and Principe withdraws from AWCON qualifier against Super Falcons

With some of the Super Falcons players arriving the country ahead for...

Saturday Premier League Round Up

There were 21 goals scored across seven game centres in the Premier...

Cross River Gov. Otu employs, rehabilitates neglected Olympian

The Cross River Gov. Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, has taken steps to...

 Just in: 29-year-old Oparanozie quits football

Former Super Falcons Captain, Ugochi Desire Oparanozie, says she has retired from...

NFF set to reward Waldrum new one-year deal

Contrary to reports making the rounds that Super Falcons Coach Randy Waldrum...

How Saudi disrupted the world footballing order

The Saudi Pro League also known as Roshn Saudi League (RSL) was...

Saudi Pro League chief Mike Emenalo says more bids coming for Mohamed Salah

Saudi Arabia’s Pro League chief Michael Emenalo has said that bringing Liverpool...

Sports Minister congratulates Super Eagles as they maul Sao Tome 6-0 in Uyo

Sen. John Owan Enoh, the Minister of Sports, has congratulated the Super...