Anderlecht not yet seeded in second EL preliminary round
TUESDAY, 20 MAY 2025, 13:48 - lajoya
OTHER Anderlecht's position for this season is fixed: fourth. Purple-White thus fails to meet the goals set beforehand and may speak again of a disappointing season. On July 24, the team from Brussels will have to play their first European match. Anderlecht will play in the second preliminary round of the Europa League. The return match is scheduled on July 31. In case of elimination, Anderlecht will return to the third preliminary round of the Conference League (followed by a play-off).
The draw will take place on June 18. For now, there are not too many names to fill in. Sixteen teams will be in action in the second preliminary round of the Europa League (eight series heads and eight non-protected teams). Anderlecht is a possible series leader, but that will be a close call:
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Continue reading Seeded: Sporting Braga are also certain of the second preliminary round and are ranked higher than Anderlecht Legia Warsaw (first preliminary round to play) Shaktar Donetsk (first preliminary round to play)
Unseeded: FC Utrecht Hibernian Sheriff Tiraspol (first preliminary round to play) CFR Cluj (first preliminary round to play) NK Celje (first preliminary round to play)
Therefore, if this logic is respected, three more clubs classified lower than Anderlecht have to qualify and then Anderlecht will be seeded. For this, there are several options:
There are still teams directly placed from the Czech Republic, Turkey, Denmark and Switzerland. The Turkish club is Samsunspor or Besiktas and both are lower on the ranking than Anderlecht. The clubs from the other three countries can finish either above or below Anderlecht. So this is already at least one of the three.
In addition, there are three more teams to come out of the first preliminary round whose names are still unknown. Normally, one of those three matches will go between two lower-ranked clubs anyway. So this is already at least two of the three.
So to be seeded, Anderlecht must hope for one more surprise from the Czech Republic, Denmark or Switzerland (direct placement) or that one weaker brother makes it in the remaining two matches from the first preliminary round (or Legia or Shathar are eliminated, which is unlikely).
