The three Maltese clubs taking part in this year’s European club competitions – Birkirkara, Sliema Wanderers and Hibernians – will all be waiting eagerly to know their first qualifying round opponents today.

UEFA will be making the draws for the first rounds in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup early this afternoon at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Birkirkara have the honour of becoming the first club from Malta to be among the seeded teams in the first round. They have accumulated a coefficient of 1,880 ranking points and are now 11th placed, thus making them eligible for a seeded place. This gives them a seemingly good chance of being able to advance to the second qualifying round, if the draw is favourable to them.

Possible opponents are Soligorski (Belarus), Elbasani (Albania), Linfield (N. Ireland), Cork City (Ireland Rep.), TMVK Tallin (Estonia), Baku (Azerbaijan), Dudelange (Luxembourg), Torshavn (Faroe Islands), Pyunik (Armenia), New Saints FC (Wales) and Aktobe (Kazakhstan).

In the UEFA Cup, it is quite likely that Sliema and Hibernians will be drawing opponents from Europe’s eastern countries, because of the geographic considerations by UEFA.

There will be 70 clubs in today’s draw, split into three geographical groups – north, southern Mediterranean and Central East.

The Champions League first qualifying round gets under way on 12 July with the return matches on 19 July.

The UEFA Cup first qualifying round first legs are to be played on 13 July with the return legs on 27 July.