TNS off to San Marino in Champions League
The New Saints will have to overcome San Marino's Tre Penne in the first qualifying round if they hope to keep their flag flying in this summer's UEFA Champions League.
The Oswestry-based Saints will host Tre Penne at Park Hall next Tuesday, June 28 (7pm), before travelling to San Marino for the second leg the following week on either July 5 or 6.
Should they progress, the Welsh Premier high-flyers will face a tough challenge against Cyprus champions APOEL Nicosia in the second qualifying round.
For coming in at this early stage, the treble winners will bank £159,000, while they will take their earnings up to £238,500 should they progress into the second stage.
However, their first target is to ensure they make it through the first obstacle against the lowest seeded side in the first qualifying round draw which was made yesterday in Nyon, Switzerland.
Craig Harrison' side are playing in Europe for the 18th season after landing a fifth successive Welsh Premier title.
They will go into the opening game as firm favourites, having dispatched Faroe Islanders B36 Torshavn 6-2 on aggregate at the same stage last year.
Full draw: Flora Tallinn (Estonia) v Lincoln (Gibraltar), The New Saints (Wales) v Tre Penne (San Marino), Valletta (Malta) v B36 Tórshavn (Faroe Islands), Santa Coloma (Andorra) v Alashkert (Armenia).
