Hibs learn UEFA Conference League fate as Easter Road side handed away tie first in second qualifying round

Hibs will face either Albanian or Kosovan opposition in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. They’ll play their first competitive match of the new season away to either FK Vllaznia or FC Mashieva on July 23, with the return leg at home the following week.

Hibs won’t find out the exact identity of their opposition until Vllaznia and Mashieva complete their first qualifying round tie, with the teams scheduled to meet in Albania on July 9 before the return leg in Kosovo the following week. So what do we know about the potential opponents?

FK Vllaznia

The reigning Albanian champions are the oldest team in Albania – and one of the most successful. Founded by a Maltese priest in 1919, they’re based in the northern city of Shkoder, just over the border from Montenegro.

Despite their domestic success, they’ve never made any impact on European football, with their historic high point arguably losing 4-3 to Austria Vienna in the first round of the old European Cup back in 1978. They’ve never been further than the second qualifying round of the Conference League, although they did run Icelandic opponents Vikingur Reykjavik close in a nine-goal thriller last season.

Vllaznia, who must get past FC Malisheva in the first round to set up a tie with Hibs, play their home games at the 16,000-capacity Loro Borici Stadium. Shkoder is about an hour and 20 minutes from the main airport in Tirana.

FC Malisheva

Knocked out in the first qualifying round of the Conference League in each of the last two seasons, the Kosovans are one of the smallest and newest clubs in the UEFA family. Only founded in 2016, they rose from the third tier to the first within five years.

Based in central Kosovo, sandwiched in between Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro, Malisheva play their home games at the Liman Gegaj Stadium, which has an artificial pitch – and a seating capacity of just 1800. They’re outsiders, at best.

Hibs chasing history

David Gray’s men are looking to qualify for the group/league stages of European football for the first time in club history. They’ve already achieved a remarkable piece of history by qualifying for UEFA competition for the second consecutive season - something Hibs hadn’t done for half a century.

Last season Gray’s side were knocked out of the Europa League by Midtjylland but bounced back with a Conference League win over Partizan Belgrade, only to suffer extra-time agony against Legia in Warsaw.