West Ham to face Shakhtyor Soligorsk or NK Domzale in Europa League third qualifying round

West Ham United's second attempt in as many years to reach the group stage of the Europa League will see them face a third-round qualifying trip to either Belarus or Slovenia. Slaven Bilic's side, who exited the competition at this stage last season after a penalty shootout victory over Maltese minnows Birkirkara was followed by a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Astra Giurgiu of Romania, will meet the winners of the second qualifying-round clash between Shakhtyor Soligorsk and NK Domzale.

That tie is currently poised at 1-1 after Nikola Ignjatijevic's first-half effort was cancelled out by Dejan Trajkovski at Stroitel Stadium. The return fixture takes place next Thursday (21 July).

West Ham were initially due to be at home for the first leg, but quickly confirmed that they are hopeful of reversing that arrangement in order to fully prepare their new home at the Olympic Stadium.

"In order to give Stadium owners E20 Stadium LLP as much time as possible to prepare the arena for its first taste of European football, the club have today made official representation to request that the fixtures be reversed," the Hammers confirmed in a statement released via their club website.

"If successful, Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus or NK Domzale of Slovenia will visit Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the return leg on Thursday 4 August. Following post-draw discussions, both clubs have agreed to West Ham's request in principle and a final decision is expected to be ratified by Uefa in due course."

Elsewhere in Friday's draw, Aberdeen will likely meet one of NK Maribor or Levski Sofia next. Derek McInnes men, Scottish Premiership runners-up in 2015/16, took a commanding 3-0 first-leg lead in their tie against FK Ventspils courtesy of late goals from Jayden Stockley, Adam Rooney and Wes Burns. Hearts will play FC Krasnodar if they can get past Birkirkara at Tynecastle next week, while rivals Hibernian, who conceded after just 17 seconds and also saw new manager Neil Lennon banished to the stands during last night's home defeat to Brondby IF in Edinburgh, could play Hertha Berlin.

The third qualifying round draw for the Champions League was also completed today and potentially pits Celtic against Lithuanian champions FK Zalgiris or Kazakhstan Premier League winners FC Astana. Brendan Rodgers opened his tenure as Hoops boss earlier this week with a truly humiliating 1-0 defeat to Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar. His team will be expected to comprehensively avenge that shock loss in Glasgow on Wednesday (20 July).