Conference League: 1. FC Köln versus Fehérvár or Hincesti

Created: 2022-08-02 15:01

A soccer ball is in the net before the game.

© Friso Gentsch/dpa/symbol image

1. FC Köln will face Hungary's Fehérvár FC and Moldova's Petrocub Hincesti in the play-offs for the Football Conference League.

That was the result of the draw on Tuesday in Nyon.

The play-offs will be played on August 18th and 25th, with FC initially having home advantage.

The possible opponent for Cologne's first international appearance in five years will be played in two more duels on April 4th.

Nyon - and August 11 determined.

The winner advances to the group stage, which begins on September 8th and consists of a total of eight groups, each made up of four teams.

In the premiere of the Conference League last year, Union Berlin prevailed in the playoffs against Kuopion PS from Finland, but then failed in the group phase.

Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart explained in advance that he thinks the Conference League is “good in itself.

There are other competitions that I think are superfluous.” In an interview with “t-online.de” he also criticized the way that relegated teams from the Europa League group stage were added.

"That doesn't correspond to my idea of ​​competition," he said: "If I'm kicked out of the DFB Cup, I won't continue in the state cup either."

For the Cologne team, who are dependent on additional income and have already been eliminated from the DFB Cup, it would be worthwhile to make it into the group phase.

Last season, UEFA distributed €2.8 million to each participant in the group stage.

In addition, there were prize money, TV income and proceeds from ticket sales.

dpa