• Birkirkara paired with Armenia’s Ulisses

• Zeljeznicar test for Euro debutants Balzan

The draw for the first qualifying round of the 2015/16 Europa League served up mixed fortunes for the three Maltese clubs involved.

Valletta will have been the happiest of the trio after being paired with Welsh minnows Newtown AFC, a draw that instantly revived memories of the Citizens’ 3-2 aggregate Champions League victory over Barry Town in 1999.

Birkirkara will head to Armenia to take on Ulisses FC while Euro newcomers Balzan were handed arguably the toughest draw after coming up against FK Zeljeznicar, of Bosnia.

On paper, Valletta look to have the best chance of progressing to the next round of Europe’s second-tier competition but coach Paul Zammit struck a cautious note.

“I guess the two clubs will have been happy with the draw because we are both thinking that we have a chance,” Zammit said.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves though and the most important thing is to make sure that we are well-prepared for these tests.

“I’m pleased that we’re playing the first leg away (July 2).

“The first match will give us the chance to gauge our opponents but we will be doing our utmost to gain a positive result ahead of the home leg (July 9).”

Zammit’s prudence also stems from the fact that Valletta will be without two key players for their trip to Wales.

Jonathan Caruana is suspended for the first leg following his red card in the return game of last season’s Champions League tie against Azerbaijan’s FK Qarabag while Shaun Bajada, who got married last weekend, will still be away on his honeymoon.

Newtown AFC finished sixth in the Welsh Premier League last season, a massive 39 points behind champions The New Saints. They secured a place in Europe after beating Aberystwyth in a play-off.

Chris Hughes, the Newtown boss, was delighted with the draw.

“Yes it is a decent draw,” he said.

“They are a big club and it is a big draw for us so we are already looking forward to it.”

The winner of the Valletta-Newtown tie will meet Denmark’s FC Copenhagen next.

Birkirkara will become the first Maltese club to meet a team from Armenia in European competitions when they host Ulisses FC at the National Stadium on July 2.

Ulisses claimed a berth in Europe on the back of their runners-up finish in the home league, 11 points behind Pyunik.

The prospect of a plum clash with West Ham United in the next round will surely reinforce Birkirkara’s determination to overcome Ulisses.

Adrian Delia, the newly-elected Birkirkara president who rep-resented the club at yesterday’s draw in Nyon, is upbeat.

“I’m now dowhearted,” Dr Delia told Times of Malta.

“On the contrary, I’m optimstic that we will go through.

“There is a good possibility that the winner of our tie will face West Ham in the second qualifying round and that should strengthen our determination to advance.”

Dr Delia is hopeful that the home players in Birkirkara’s squad will draw inspiration from Malta’s 1-0 victory in Armenia a 2014 World Cup qualifier two years ago.

“Armenia is one of the few countries Malta have beaten away from home in a competitive match,” the Birkirkara chief said.

“We have seven national team players in our squad and I’m sure their positive experience in Armenia will increase their self-belief that they can emulate that feat.”

Plut joins Stripes

Birkirkara, now under Italian coach Giovanni Tedesco and Josef Mansueto as his assistant, are in the final stages of their training camp in Rocca-porena.

The FA Trophy winners, who last season crashed to Hungary’s Dio-sgyor (6-2 aggregate), yesterday completed the signing of striker Vito Plut on a three-year deal.

Tedesco is well-acquainted with Slovenian Plut as the two worked together at Floriana last season.

Dr Delia also revealed that former Italy striker Fabrizio Miccoli visited Birkirkara’s training camp last weekend to hold further talks with the club over a possible move.

Tedesco, who is a good friend of Miccoli, is also running the rule over a promising Bosnian forward who has had spells in Denmark and Greece.

Meanwhile, in keeping with their status as European debutants, Balzan will be the first Maltese club to figure in this season’s Europa League as they host Zeljeznicar on June 30.

The return leg, in Sarajevo, will take place on July 7.

The Bosnians, who eliminated Marsaxlokk and Hibs in recent years, start favourites to set up a second qualifying round match against Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles or Hungary’s Ferencvaros, but Balzan will be going all out to give a good account of themselves.

“We know that Zeljeznicar are very strong but we will try to play our cards in terms of exploiting the individual and collective strengths of our players,” Spiteri said.