Kilmarnock face Cercle Bruges as St Mirren learn opponents

Derek McInnes knows his side's opponents as Stephen Robinson awaits his

Kilmarnock have been drawn against Belgian side Cercle Bruges in Europa League qualifying while St Mirren take on Valur of Iceland or Vllaznia of Albania in the Conference League.

The Ayrshire side will host the first leg on 25 July, while the Paisley outfit are away on that day, with the second legs scheduled for a week later as both competitions reach the second qualifying round.

Kilmarnock, who finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership and last played in European competition in 2019, had been unseeded in Wednesday's draw and could also have been paired with Ajax, Molde, Rapid Vienna or Trabzonspor.

Cercle Bruges were the least experienced of those potential opponents in European competition.

They have qualified for only the fourth time and for the first time since reaching the Europa League third qualifying round in 2011, when they lost to Anorthosis Famagusta.

Led by 41-year-old Miron Muslic, the Bosnian who stepped up from assistant in 2022, they finished fourth in the Belgian Pro League last season.

St Mirren, who were fifth in the Premiership and whose most recent European involvement dates back to 1987, were seeded in their draw, where they avoided Brann, Hacken, Derry City and Cliftonville.

Valur were Besta deild karla runners-up in 2023 and currently lie third, four points behind leaders and Reykjavic rivals Vikingur 11 games into the current campaign.

Their 52-year-old head coach, former Iceland midfielder Arnar Gretarsson, once had a loan spell with Rangers.

They last played in European competition when they were beaten by Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the second qualifying round two years ago.

Vllaznia, who were fourth in Albania's Kategoria Superiore, lost in last season's first qualifying round to Northern Ireland's Linfield.

Thomas Brdaric, the 49-year-old former Germany and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, was appointed head coach earlier this year.

What happens next?

Should Kilmarnock win, they will have to negotiate a third qualifying round, where they would again be unseeded, and a play-off round if they are to reach the group stage.

If the Belgians win, Derek McInnes' side will drop into the Conference League third qualifying round as an unseeded side.

Should St Mirren progress, they would also face a third qualifying round and a play-off to reach the group stage.

Did you know?

Cercle Bruges

The form of Brazilian goalkeeper Warleson has reportedly attracted interest from Monaco, while 21-year-old right-back Hugo Siquet made his Belgium debut last season.

Togo forward Kevin Denkey is Cercle's main dangerman, netting 28 goals in 39 appearances last season and finishing as the league's top scorer on 22.

Meanwhile, winger Kazeem Olaigbe spent the 2022-23 season on loan to Ross County from Southampton.

Valur

Valur have twice played Scottish opposition, being thrashed 9-0 on aggregate by Celtic in 1975 and 7-0 by Aberdeen in 1993, both in the European Cup-winners Cup.

Veteran former United States striker Aron Johannsson and Danish forward Patrick Pedersen are their only foreign players.

Vllaznia

The Albanian side have only crossed paths with Scottish opponents once - losing 6-0 on aggregate to Dundee in the Uefa Cup qualifying round in 2003.

Head coach Brdaric, who is in his second spell in charge, once recorded a CD entitled "The Wild 13" in which he mocks goalkeepers Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehmann and Frank Rost.