Aberdeen discover potential Conference League play-off opponents
They need to get past Breiðablik first, but a tie with either AEL Limassol or Qarabag awaits should the Dons progress.
Last updated 2nd Aug 2021
Should they beat Icelandic side Breiðablik in their UEFA Conference League third round qualifier, Aberdeen will face the winner of AEL Limassol or Qarabag in the play-off round.
That means a potential trip to either Cyprus or Azerbaijan for the Dons.
The tie is scheduled to take place on the 19th/26th August.
AEL are not to be confused with Apollon limassol who previously knocked Aberdeen out of the Europa League qualifiers.
A win in this round would see Stephen Glass take his side into the group stages of the competition.
Of course Aberdeen will travel to Iceland on Thursday (August 5) to take on Breiðablik, with the return leg a week later at Pittodrie.
AEK finished second in the first phase of the Cypriot League last season, a point ahead of Appollon, but dropped to third when the division moved to it's 'Championship Round' similar to the split here.
AEK's best European performance came in 2012-13 when after being eliminated from Champions League qualifying, they dropped into the Europa League group stags - but ultimately finished last in the group.
Last season they fell at Qualification round 2, to Greek side Aris, in the Europa League.
The Cyprus side even had a Scot in their ranks. Midfielder Alastair Reynolds was part of the Hibs set-up before moving to Cyprus at 9 years old.
They also have striker Stefan Scepovic who was with Celtic between 2014 and 2016, scoring 4 league goals. He's scored twice for the club after joining from Malaga in Spain.
Qarabag meanwhile finished second in the Azerbaijan Premier League last term, just two points off champions Neftci Baku.
In 2017 they managed to make it to the group stages of the Champions League, the first team from their nation to do so.
They obtained two points from a tough group involving Chelsea, Roma and Atletico Madrid.
Last season they made the group stages of the Europa League, but finished 4th in their group.