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