MINSK, 29 May (BelTA) - Four Belarusian football clubs will play in the 2017-2018 EUFA season, BelTA has learned.
Belarus champion BATE Borisov will join the UEFA Champions League from the second qualifying round. The draw ceremony is scheduled for 19 June and the matches will be held on 11-12 and 18-19 July. In order to reach the UEFA Champion League group stage the Borisov team must come through three qualifiers. BATE played in the group stage five times.
Three more Belarusian teams will compete in the UEFA Europa League. The Belarus Cup holder Dinamo Brest will start its campaign from the second qualifying round. The prize winners of the 2016 Belarusian Football Championships, Shakhtyor Soligorsk and Dinamo Minsk, will join the competitions from the first qualifying stage. Dinamo Minsk played in the Europa League group stage of the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons.
The UEFA Europa League first drawing for the new season is scheduled for 19 June. The first round qualifiers will take place on 29 June and 6 July, second round – 13 and 14 July. Following four qualifying rounds, 22 best clubs will advance to the Europa League group stage. They will be joined by ten teams that do not qualify for the Champions League group stage, and four teams with the UEFA highest rankings: Atalanta B.C., Arsenal F.C., Villarreal CF, and FC Cologne.
