The third qualifying round pairings of the 2009/10 Europa League were held in Nyon yesterday.

The two Maltese teams in the competition, Sliema Wanderers and Valletta, are still in the reckoning for a place in the next round after creditable showings in the first legs of the second qualifying round played earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Sliema drew 0-0 at home with Maccabi Netanya, of Israel, and Valletta fared even better when they held Ireland's St Patrick's Athletic to a one-all draw at the Richmond Park stadium on Thursday.

A score draw will be enough for Sliema to advance to the next round which could mean a financially rewarding tie with Frank Rijkaard's Galatasaray.

The popular Turkey team are favourites to reach the next round after a 1-1 draw away at Kazakhstan's FC Tobol Kostanay on Thursday.

Valletta are on the verge of becoming the first Maltese team to clear two rounds of a major UEFA competition for clubs. Should they make it, the Citizens will clash against Russian team Krylya Sovetov Samara.

Krylva are currently sixth in the Russian league with 20 points after 13 matches played.

Only 30 of the 70 teams that will compete at this stage have been given automatic entry to the third qualifying round, among them Hamburg, Roma, and PSV Eindhoven.

Roma will begin their campaign against either Belarus side Naftan or Belgians AA Gent.

Fulham, who will play in Europe for the first time in seven years, were drawn to play either Finnish side HJK Helsinki or Lithuanian outfit FK Vetra.

The winners of the 35 third qualifying round encounters will go into the play-off draw on August 7 alongside 41 other clubs, including 2009 UEFA Cup finalists Werder Bremen, former European champions Benfica, Aston Villa and Ajax plus the 15 losing teams from the Champions League third qualifying round.