Steaua Bucharest will face Manchester City in the play-off of the Champions League, according to the draw made on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon (Switzerland).
Steaua will play the first match at home, on August 16 or 17 and the second leg in Manchester on August 23 or 24. If that fails to qualify for the Champions League, the Romanian vice-champions will play in Europa League.
Steaua Bucharest coach Laurentiu Reghecampf is optimistic after the draw: “We will play our chance, we play the first game at home. Maybe we are lucky to face them at the beginning of the road, on a bad day. But I doubt it. I had the chance to play against Guardiola when he was with Bayern. He is one of the best coaches in the world, he prepares the matches very well,” Reghecampf said.
He admits that Manchester City was the only team he wanted to avoid, but says he will play his chance.
Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain said for BBC: “It’s going to be a difficult tie because Steaua are on the up again in Europe and have a lot of talent.”
Astra Giurgiu, Romania’s champions, will face West Ham United in the Europa League play-off, according to the draw on Friday. The matches will take place on August18 and 25. The first match will take place at home.
The match is a replay of the last year’s duel in the 3rd qualifying round of the same competition, Astra qualified after 2-2 away and 2-1 at home.
Photo: uefa.com