Trip north for nothernmost ever Greek team in Europe
Skoda Xanthi FC, that has made the Europa League qualifiers through the back door after PAS Giannina and Panathinaikos were rejected by UEFA from European competitions, will face one of Fuglafjordur from the Faroe Islands and Linfield from Northern Ireland in the second qualifying round of Europe’s second-tier competition.
After the financial fair play committee of UEFA rejected PAS Giannina from entering the Europa League, it turned to Panathinaikos, which was also rejected.
As a result seventh-placed Xanthi, according to the 2012-13 final Super League table, has become Greece’s third representative in the Europa League along with Atromitos and Asteras Tripolis.
According to the draw for the first and second qualiyfing rounds of the Europa League, that UEFA conducted on Monday in Switzerland, Xanthi will host the first game on July 18 before travelling to the Faroe Islands or to Northern Ireland on July 25.
This will be Xanthi’s fourth adventure in Europe, having played three times in the UEFA Cup. It will also be its great chance to score an elusive first victory in European comeptitions.
