Hammarby drawn against Anderlecht while IFK Göteborg land dream tie
Hammarby face Belgian giants Anderlecht in Europa League qualifying, while IFK Göteborg get a favourable Conference League draw. Ties begin July 23.
SFN Editor ·
Three Swedish clubs now know their European fate this summer after the qualifying draws for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League were made, throwing up one heavyweight clash and one tie that has Gothenburg smiling.
Hammarby will face Belgian top-flight side RSC Anderlecht in the Europa League second qualifying round, with the Stockholm club hosting the first leg. Anderlecht finished fourth in the Belgian league last season following the league's play-off phase, making them a formidable but not impossible obstacle. "Tough but possible," said Hammarby sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg, speaking to Aftonbladet. "I would probably have said that about any of the teams in the draw — there were a lot of good sides — but so are we."
The tie gives Hammarby a chance to draw on recent Belgian experience. Last year the club knocked out Charleroi in Conference League qualifying, and Hjelmberg hinted they may once again lean on inside knowledge — this time from former player Fredrik Hammar, who currently plays for Belgian club Mechelen. "We'll give Hammar a call and see what help he can offer," Hjelmberg added.
For IFK Göteborg, the mood is considerably lighter. The Gothenburg club, known as Blåvitt, were drawn to face the winner of the tie between Welsh side Caernarfon Town and Estonian club Levadia Tallinn in the Conference League second qualifying round. "Spontaneously we're happy with the draw, without knowing our final opponent yet," said IFK Göteborg football director Jesper Jansson.
Fellow Gothenburg club GAIS also enter at the second qualifying round stage, where they will take on Danish outfit FC Nordsjælland — a club with regular European experience in recent years.
All three Swedish clubs are scheduled to play their first legs at home on July 23, with the return legs on July 30. Both legs for the Gothenburg clubs may require scheduling adjustments to fit around Allsvenskan fixtures, with UEFA's competition committee set to rule on the matter.
For Hammarby, European success carries extra weight after a stuttering domestic start — the club sit fourth in Allsvenskan, eleven points behind leaders Sirius after eleven matches.