Rapid first have to get past Paide Linnameeskond from Estonia in the third qualifying round and would then face the loser of the Europa League tie between Benfica and Heart of Midlothian. Austria Wien, if they overcome Beitar Jerusalem, would meet the winner of Braga against Dinamo Minsk. SC Freiburg also know their potential opponent, while Salzburg would drop into the Conference League play-offs if they fail in Europa League qualifying, where a favourable opponent would be waiting.
All possible play-off ties at a glance
Champions Path:
• Loser of FC Thun/Víkingur Reykjavík – Winner of FK Borac/ML Vitebsk
• Loser of Shamrock Rovers/KF Egnatia – Loser of KuPS/Universitatea Craiova
• Winner of Tre Fiori/FC Drita – Winner of Inter Club d’Escaldes/FC Flora Tallinn
• Loser of Lech Poznań/KÍ Klaksvík – Winner of Riga FC/ETO FC Győr
• Loser of Lincoln Red Imps/Omonia – Loser of Larne FC/FC Iberia 1999
Main Path:
• Winner of HJK Helsinki/Motherwell – SC Freiburg
• Loser of Ferencváros/Górnik Zabrze – AS Monaco
• Winner of Inter Turku/Vaduz – Winner of Debrecen/FC Copenhagen
• Loser of Benfica/Heart of Midlothian – Winner of Paide Linnameeskond/SK Rapid
• Winner of CFR Cluj/Tromsø – Brighton & Hove Albion
• Winner of Žalgiris/Hajduk Split – Winner of Raków Częstochowa/Hammarby
• Winner of Panathinaikos/CSKA 1948 – Loser of Hradec Králové/Beşiktaş
• Winner of IFK Göteborg/KAA Gent – Winner of Hibernian/Shkëndija
• Loser of PAOK/Anderlecht – Winner of Brann/Apollon Limassol
• Atalanta – Winner of Hapoel Tel Aviv/GKS Katowice
• Winner of Bohemian FC/Midtjylland – Winner of Rijeka/Ilves
• Loser of Jagiellonia Białystok/Rangers – Winner of Jablonec/RFS
• Winner of Valur/Nordsjælland – Winner of Sheriff Tiraspol/FC St. Gallen
• Winner of Auda/Dinamo City – Loser of FC Salzburg/Pafos FC
• Winner of Noah/FC Sion – Winner of Ajax/Shelbourne
• Winner of Braga/Dinamo Minsk – Winner of Beitar Jerusalem/Austria Wien
• Winner of Twente/DAC – Loser of Dynamo Kyiv/Qarabag
• Getafe – Winner of Partizan/Tobol
• Winner of FC Lugano/NSÍ Runavík – Loser of Maccabi Tel Aviv/CSKA Sofia
Rapid and the hope for Benfica to do their job
For Rapid, the situation looks clear at first glance: against Paide, the Hütteldorf side will be favourites in the third qualifying round. The Estonians are an opponent Rapid haveonians are an opponent Rapid have to approach seriously, but from a sporting perspective they are not in the category of classic banana-skin ties. An elimination against Paide would, of course, be a massive setback.
The bigger intrigue lies in the potential play-off. There, the loser of Benfica against Hearts awaits. Realistically, Hearts would be the much more likely and also more manageable scenario for Rapid. Benfica would be an absolute heavyweight opponent, even if the Portuguese side were to drop into the Conference League mentally bruised after a Europa League exit. In terms of name, individual quality and international experience, a duel with Benfica would be on an entirely different level.
Against Hearts, on the other hand, Rapid would face a tie with a big atmosphere but also realistic chances. The Scots are now well known in Austria, with Sturm Graz also having faced Heart of Midlothian in Champions League qualifying. For Rapid, a play-off against Hearts would be a difficult but attractive draw. The route to the league phase is therefore possible, but by no means comfortable.
Austria with Braga looming
Austria Wien first have to get past Beitar Jerusalem. This tie is much more open from a sporting perspective than Rapid’s task against Paide. Beitar bring individual quality, experience and emotion, so Austria will need two highly focused performances. If they progress, the winner of Braga against Dinamo Minsk will await in the play-off.
Braga in particular would be an extremely difficult opponent for the Violets. The Portuguese club have been regulars in Europe for years, possess considerable squad depth and quality, and would be clear favourites. Dinamo Minsk would probably be the more manageable option on paper, and the outsider, but certainly not an automatic win either.
For Austria, this draw means that even the third round is demanding, while the play-off could represent another major step up. At the same time, reaching the league phase would have enormous sporting and financial significance. Especially after the squad rebuild and the increased integration of young players, successful qualification would be a strong signal and an argument in favour of the chosen path.
Freiburg await HJK or Motherwell
SC Freiburg enter only at the play-off stage and will face the winner of HJK Helsinki against Motherwell. For the Breisgau club, this is a good draw. HJK bring European experience, Motherwell stand for British physicality and uncomfortable intensity, but Freiburg would be favourites against either opponent.
The situation is still not entirely risk-free. Especially in August, when Bundesliga clubs are not yet fully in rhythm, qualifying matches can become awkward. Freiburg, however, have the advantage of being able to prepare fully for this opponent, while HJK and Motherwell first have to survive another round.
Salzburg only affected if they fail
For Salzburg, the Conference League draw only becomes relevant if the club fails in Europa League qualifying against Pafos. In that case, the loser of Salzburg against Pafos would face the winner of Auda against Dinamo City in the Conference League play-off.
From Salzburg’s perspective, that would be a clearly manageable route, but of course also a scenario they will want to avoid. Salzburg’s ambition is not the Conference League, but generally at least the Europa League. Should they have to take this detour after all, the pressure would be correspondingly high: another failure against an outsider would be very difficult to explain.
Swiss trio with mixed draws
The Swiss clubs also know their possible paths. Sion face Noah in the third round and, if they progress, would meet the winner of Ajax against Shelbourne. An attractive, but also very difficult scenario.
St. Gallen first face Sheriff Tiraspol. If the eastern Swiss side progress, the winner of Valur against Nordsjælland awaits. Awkward, but not frightening. Lugano, meanwhile, play NSÍ Runavík and would then face the loser of Maccabi Tel Aviv against CSKA Sofia. For the Swiss representatives, there is a bit of everything: manageable routes, big names and several fairly open 50:50 ties.
