Historical case: Ukraine faces a unique situation in the Europa League

Luhansk Zorya and Dnipro-1 may face off in a battle to qualify for the Europa League group stage. This will happen if the Ukrainian vice-champions pass Slavia Prague in the third qualifying round.

This became known following the draw for the European Cups, which took place at the headquarters of the European Football Union (UEFA) in Nyon, Switzerland. The Ukrainian derby in the Europa League may take place on 24 August. If Dnipro-1 loses to the Czech team, it will play Lech Poznan or Spartak Trnava in the playoffs of the Conference League qualifiers.

Dynamo Kyiv is also playing in the same tournament, and if it wins the duel with Greek Aris, it will fight with Istanbul's Besiktas or Baku's Neftchi for the right to play in the group stage.

It was impossible for teams from the same country to compete at the qualifying stages of continental tournaments before the reform of European Cups and the emergence of the Conference League in 2021. Ukraine may become the first country whose teams will face off against each other.

It is worth noting that Dynamo Kyiv and Dnipro-1 will play their first matches against Slavia and Aris on Thursday, 10 August.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Dnipro-1 and Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk signed a contract with Spanish side Girona, where he joined former Dynamo captain Viktor Tsygankov.

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