Monday, August 2, 2021 at 13:13• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 13:21

AZ knows the two possible opponents in the last preliminary round of the Europa League. The team of trainer Pascal Jansen was linked to the winner of the match between FK Jablonec and Celtic during the draw in Nyon on Monday. The matches in the play-off round of the Europa League will be played on Thursday 19 and 26 August.

AZ, the number three in the Eredivisie, is the only Dutch club to survive only one preliminary round to reach a European group stage. The Alkmaarders also had a seeded status in Monday’s draw. A draw showed on Saturday that AZ would compete against the winner of Omonia Nicosia – Flora Tallinn, the winner of NS Mura – Zalgiris Vilnius, the winner of Kairat Almaty – Alashkert FC, the winner of Lincoln Red Imps – Slovan Bratislava, the winner from Neftçi Baku – HJK Helsinki, the winner of FK Jablonec – Celtic, the winner of Rapid Wien – Anorthosis Famagusta or the winner of Galatasaray – St. Johnstone.

Jablonec and Celtic will meet each other for the first time on Thursday evening in the third qualifying round of the Europa League. Last season, Jablonec finished third in the Czech Republic, behind Sparta Prague and champions Slavia Prague, while Celtic finished second in the Scottish Premier League. The superpower grabbed the national title for the first time in ten years. If AZ does not win, it will end up in the group stage of the Conference League. The draw for the group stage of both the Europa League and the Conference League will take place on August 27.