Dundalk to face Rosenborg in Champions League qualifying

Dundalk will face Norwegian champions Rosenborg in the second qualifying round of the Champions League after the draw was made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon this morning.

The Lilywhites will be relieved to have avoided nightmare draws of Celtic or Malmo, while last year's elimination round conquerors Legia Warsaw were also best avoided.

Stephen Kenny's side were placed in a loose grouping of northern European teams that also included FH Hafnarfjordur, whom Dundalk beat at the same stage last year, and Maribor of Slovenia.

And while a repeat trip to Iceland would have been ideal for the three-times champions, who reached the group stages of the Europa League last season, Rosenborg was the next-best option.

Northern Ireland's Linfield were also unseeded in the same grouping in the draw and, should they come through their first-round tie with San Marino's champions La Fiorita, they will face Celtic.

Second round first leg ties will take place on Tuesday/Wednesday July 11^th/12^th while the return legs will take place a week later on July 18^th/19^th. Dundalk will play at home in week one.