HIBERNIAN TO FACE MALISHEVA IN CONFERENCE LEAGUE QUALIFYING

Hibernian will play Kosovan club Malisheva in the second round of Conference League qualifying this month. Malisheva advanced from their first-round tie against Albanian side Vllaznia by winning the second leg 5-0 on Wednesday, after trailing 2-1 following the first leg, to progress 6-2 on aggregate. Hibernian, managed by David Gray, are ranked more than 100 places higher than their opponents in European club rankings.

The first leg of the tie will take place away from home on 23 July, with the second leg at Easter Road on 30 July. Malisheva finished as runners-up in the Kosovo Superleague last season. Two other Scottish clubs are also in European qualifying this month: Hearts face Austrian club Sturm Graz in the second round of Champions League qualifying, whilst Motherwell take on Havnar Boltfelag of the Faroe Islands in the second round of Conference League qualifying.

The draw determines Hibernian's path in their European campaign this season. The tie represents their first competitive match against Kosovo-based opposition at this stage of the competition. Scottish clubs' involvement in multiple European competitions reflects their domestic league standing in UEFA rankings.