The Champions League 2018-19 may feel like a long way off right now, but for many clubs the road starts here as the qualification rounds begin this week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, clubs from all over Europe will begin their first qualifying games in the hope of making it through to the group stages, which begin in September. We don’t have the big names involved here, but for these smaller teams this is a huge opportunity to make a name for themselves and gain some much needed publicity.

Champions League 2018-19 Qualifying – British Contenders

The two British contenders both play on Tuesday night, with Celtic and Cork City in action. Celtic are one of the biggest teams in this round, and will want to ensure a nice and easy passage through to the next. They take on Alashkert from Armenia and over the two legs anything less than a convincing win would be disappointing for the Scottish champions. Celtic are one of just a handful of teams who are in the competition at this stage and hold a genuine chance to make the group stages, so they will be looking to stamp their authority.

Cork City take on Legia Warsaw in a game they are huge underdogs for. However, they have been playing well recently and with the Irish league in full swing, they are going to be fit and match sharp for this one. They have their best chance of success in the home leg on Tuesday, and will look to get something out of the game against their higher ranked opposition. This is a big game for them, and while they may not be able to get a win on home soil, a draw looks within reach and would set up a winner takes all second leg.

Best of the Rest

If you are looking for some big names to watch out for then there are a few across Tuesday and Wednesday you can watch for. Celtic are the biggest team in the competition, but alongside them on Tuesday you will find some other big names taking part on Wednesday. Red Star Belgrade have a rich European history and they take on Spartaks on Wednesday in a game they should win relatively easy. Apoel Nicosia are another relatively big team to take to the stage on Wednesday and they travel away to Suduva.

Ludogorets will be remembered by Rangers fans and they begin their Champions League 2018-19 campaign with a game against Crusaders, a game that they should win very easily, wrapping the tie up in the first leg. Finally, Rosenborg have often performed well in Europe and represented Norway very well and they take on Valur away from home in the first leg of their tie. They have been seen to good effect in the latter stages of the qualification round, and this should be a very easy comfortable evening for them as they look to wrap up their game in the first leg.

Making the Champions League 2018-19 group stages is a dream for many clubs, and one that begins this week.

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