Moldova will be for the first time represented by two teams in the Europa League playoff round. In the August 8 draw, Sheriff was among the best ranked teams, while Zimbru was among the worst ranked ones. Thus, Sheriff will have an accessible opponent - HNK Rijeka of Croatia - while Zimbru will meet the vice champion of Greece PAOK Salonik.
"I'm not satisified with the draw. We will face a very powerful opponent," Zimbru coach Oleg Kubarev has told IPN.
Sheriff will play its first-leg match away on August 21, while the return game will take place in Tiraspol in a week. Zimbru will play the first-leg match in Chisinau.
The last season, Rijeka finished second in Croatia, but managed to win the Cup after beating the famous Dinamo Zagreb with a general score of 3-0. Rijeka began the new season with a new victory against Dinamo Zagreb, 2-1 in the Super Cup of Croatia. The team has a maximum score after the first three stages of the new season.
PAOK ranked second the last season in Greece, defeating the famous Panathinaikos. The two teams met also in the final of Greece's Cup, where PAOK lost by 1-4.
