Athletic paired with Napoli in CL

Athletic Bilbao will have to play Serie A side Napoli to win a place in the Champions League group stage.

The clubs were paired against each other at today’s draw in Nyon with the Basque club having to overcome Rafael Benitez’s side to reach the group stage for the first time in 16 years.

Athletic could have been pitted against Arsenal, Porto, Zenit St. Petersburg or Bayer Leverkusen but instead meet Napoli, who finished third in Italy last year.

The first leg will be played at Napoli’s San Paolo on either August 19 or 20, with the return at San Mames on August 26 or 27.

Besiktas play Arsenal, FC Copenhagen meet Leverkusen, Standard Liege face Zenit and Lille and Porto square off in the rest of the League route draw.

Champions League Play-off round draw

Champions route

Maribor-Celtic

Salzburg-Malmo

AAB-APOEL

Steaua-Ludogorets

Slovan Bratislava-BATE

League route

Besiktas-Arsenal

Standard Liege-Zenit

FC Copenhagen-Bayer Leverkusen

Lille-Porto

Napoli-Athletic Bilbao

Tags Napoli
La Liga - Club News