Linfield reach Champions League preliminary round final as Glentoran and Coleraine face home Europa League ties
Linfield’s reward for continued Champions League progress on Tuesday will be a trip to tackle Legia Warsaw.
Goals by Bastien Hery and recent signing Christy Manzinga secured the Blues a 2-0 victory over Tre Fiori of San Marino at the weekend.
Now Linfield face Kosovo’s Drita in Switzerland this week for a chance to meet Legia Warsaw in the one-leg Champions League first qualifying round across August 18 or 19.
In Sunday’s Europa League draw, Irish Cup winners Glentoran and Danske Bank Premiership runners-up Coleraine were both handed home ties over the preliminary round.
The Glens face HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands over one leg on August 20, with Coleraine to welcome La Fiorita from San Marino.
Linfield captain Jamie Mulgrew picked up a knock which marked a record-breaking 37th appearance for the club in European football.
“To go and pass someone of the calibre and quality of Noel Bailie is an exceptional record for Jamie,” said boss David Healy on the club’s official website. “Noel will forever be engraved in the Linfield history, a one-club man.
“Jamie’s been a fantastic captain since I’ve been at the club and I thanked him in the dressing room.
“I’m absolutely delighted to go through, I thought the players were immense, the fitness levels and concentration, to deservedly put us into the (preliminary round) final.”