This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
Published on August 5, 2019, by AFP
Ajax, last season's Champions League semi-finalists, will face a challenging playoff round against PAOK Thessaloniki in their bid to reach the group stage of the European club competition.
The Dutch side, who won the Eredivisie for the 34th time, will have to navigate through the third qualifying round against PAOK, who went unbeaten to win the Greek Super League and claim their first league title in over three decades.
First, however, they have to see off PAOK in the third qualifying round, with the first leg taking place on Tuesday in Greece and the return leg seven days later in Amsterdam.
The playoff ties will be held on August 20-21 and 27-28.
Other notable playoff ties include Porto facing either Istanbul Basaksehir or Olympiakos, and Slavia Prague awaiting the winners of CFR Cluj and 1967 European champions Celtic.
Red Star Belgrade, who won the competition in 1991, will face Swiss outfit Young Boys if they beat FC Copenhagen.
In the Europa League draw, Torino and Wolverhampton Wanderers will meet up in the pick of the playoff ties if they get past Belarusian side Shakhtyor and Armenians Pyunik.
