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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Paul Thomson

Motherwell Europa League opponents profiled as Viktoria Plzen or SønderjyskE await in play-off round

Motherwell will host Viktoria Plzeň or SønderjyskE in the play-off round of the Europa League if they can overcome Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Israel next week.

Stephen Robinson's men are looking to reach the group stages for the first time in their history after a win over Coleraine on penalties last night but they have some big challenges to overcome first to bring some glamour ties to North Lanarkshire.

We take a look at the sides they could face if they can come through their third round qualifier on Thursday.

Viktoria Plzeň

Viktoria Plzen supporters applaud their team (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)



The Czech side finished runners-up in the Czech First League last season, nine points behind winners Slavia Prague, and they have just got their 2020/21 season underway.

They sit in mid-table of the Czech First League with two wins and a defeat from their opening three games and dropped into this season's Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.

French striker Jean-David Beauguel helped fire them to a 2-1 victory over Mlada Boleslav last weekend and he has scored 10 goals in his last 13 appearances for Plzen, so he should be a player for Motherwell fans to keep an eye on.

Plzeň are managed by Slovakian Adrián Guľa, who was coach of the Slovak under-21 squad before taking on the role in 2019.

SønderjyskE   

The Danish Superliga outfit are just one game into their new league season.

But SønderjyskE - or SønderjyskE Elitesport Fodbold to give them their full name - did kick-off with a 2-0 win over defending champions FC Midtjylland, a side Rangers fans will know well after their 7-3 aggregate win in last season's Europa campaign.

Manager Glen Riddersholm has packed his squad full of home grown talent, but among the squad is American winger Haji Wright who has Bundesliga experience with Schalke and Australian goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas, who had a spell in England at Sheffield United.

Dutchman Mart Lieder was their top scorer last season with six goals, but he has since moved to join rivals Odense, so much responsibility will lie with youngster Julius Eskesen and experienced striker Anders Jacobsen, who have both moved in the opposite direction.

Jacobsen scored both goals in July as SønderjyskE won a delayed Danish Cup final against Aalborg 2-0.

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on  Facebook or find us on  Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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