The teams already in the group stages are; Arsenal, Lazio, Villarreal, Lyon, Sociedad, Lokomotiv Moscow, Hertha, Koln, Vitoria Guimarăes, Atalanta, Zulte Waregem, Zorya(UKR), Konyaspor(TUR), Vitesse, Fastav Zlín(CZE) and Lugano.
Absolutely loads waiting in the latter qualifying knockout rounds like Everton, Bilbao, PSV, Marseille etc. But tonight already 100 teams are facing each other in the first qualifying round. To be honest its absolutely absurd so many teams take part in this competition, I'd love to know how many matches are played by the time we reach the final on May 16th in Lyon.
Rangers laboured to a 1-0 home victory this evening thanks to a Kenny Miller winner in the first half against Progres Niedercorn who finished 4th in the Luxembourg top flight.
St Johnstone lost 2-1 at home to 10 men FK Trakai of Lithuania.
Big news of the night for me is Welsh minnows Connah's Quay beating bloody HJK (Helsinki) 1-0.
Nathan Woolfe was Connah's Quay Nomads' hero as they upset the odds in the first leg of their Europa League first qualifying round against HJK Helsinki. Without doubt the biggest night for the club.
Helsinki lead Finland's Veikkausliga with one loss in 16 games and scored 18 goals in their last five wins.
But after Woolfe's cross-shot put Nomads ahead just before half-time, Helsinki could find no way through against a fine defensive effort.
The Welsh side now have the upper hand for the away leg on Thursday, 6 July.
The winners will face Moldovan side Dacia Chisinau or Shkëndija of Macedonia in the second qualifying round.
