Sports: Connah’s Quay to face Armenian side Alashkert in Champions League

Wales,

5 hours ago Tom Pritchard

Connah's Quay Nomads are gearing up for their second appearance in Champions League qualifying. (Photo: Will Cheshire)

Connah’s Quay Nomads have been drawn to face FC Alashkert in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.

The draw, which took place in Nyon, Switzerland this morning, pits the Cymru Premier champions against the reigning Armenian League winners.

The Nomads, who were unseeded for the draw, were placed in Group 2, and could have been drawn against CFR Cluj (Romania), KF Shkëndija (North Macedonia) and FK Budućnost Podgorica (Montenegro).

Andy Morrison’s side will be at home in the first leg, which will take place on 6-7 July at Aberystwyth Town’s Park Avenue, before they make the trip to the capital city Yerevan a week later.

Connah’s Quay in action against FK Sarajevo in last season’s Champions League qualifying. (Photo: Will Cheshire)

The Deeside club will be making their second appearance in qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition, after losing out to Bosnian side FK Sarajevo at the same stage last season.

Should the north Walian side fail to win the tie, they will be transferred to the Europa Conference League Champions Path second qualifying round.

The draw for the second qualifying round will take place tomorrow at 11:00 BST, where the Nomads will find out their potential opponents should they defeat the Armenian side over two legs.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS