Rank outsiders Skenderbeu and distant Astana will line up alongside traditional powers such as Manchester United, Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen as the Champions League play-offs get under way with first legs today.
With millions of euros’ revenue, plus the prestige of a place in the group stage at stake, the play-offs often serve up more drama and tension than the group stage itself.
The outcome can also have a significant impact on the rest of the season for clubs who miss out on the group stage windfall.
Italy’s Napoli never really recovered last season from their defeat to Athletic Bilbao one year ago. They eventually limped in fifth in Serie A, well short of expectations and outside the Champions League places.
For teams such as former European champions Manchester United, who raked in €32 million from their last group stage appearance in 2013/14, getting through the play-offs is considered little more than an obligation.
Even so, with United still getting into their stride, their tie against Belgians Club Brugge is anything than a formality.
Louis van Gaal’s side, absent from the group stage last term for the first time in 19 seasons, are facing the uncertainties of the play-off round for the first time since 2005, when they overcame Hungary’s Debrecen 6-0 on aggregate.
United, who host the first leg tonight, have never been knocked out in the Champions League qualifying rounds and have won four of their six meetings against Belgian opponents.
Valencia, who have spent more than €100 million on transfers, host last season’s quarter-finalists Monaco tomorrow as they attempt to return to the group stage after a two-season absence.
In the other top tie, Italy’s Lazio, who have not played in the group stage since 2007-08, host Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen tonight.
Sporting play CSKA Moscow in Lisbon today in a repeat of the 2005 UEFA Cup final which the Russians won while Rapid Vienna, who stunned Ajax in the previous round, host group stage regulars Shakhtar Donetsk tomorrow.
Skenderbeu, aiming to become the first Albanian side to reach the group stage, face more experienced Dinamo Zagreb, Croatian champions for the last 10 years, tomorrow.
Their hopes of a historic win lie largely on the shoulders of striker Hamdi Salihi who has scored five goals in four qualifiers this season.
Kazakhstan could also be represented for the first time if Astana can overcome Cypriot champions APOEL, who must make a 7,000km round trip to Central Asia for the first leg today.
Scottish champions Celtic, European Cup winners in 1967, experienced the full trauma of a play-off round defeat last season when they were beaten by Slovenia’s Maribor.
They are at home to Swedish counterparts Malmo, European Cup finalists in 1979, who are attempting to reach the group stage for the second season in a row.
FC Basel, Swiss champions for the last six seasons, face Maccabi Tel-Aviv and BATE Borisov, who have made four appearances in the group stage since 2008/09, are at home to Partizan in the other tie.
Champions League – play-offs
Playing today – 20.45
Astana (Kazakhstan) vs APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus) - 18.00
BATE Borisov (Belarus) vs Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
Lazio (Italy) vs Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Manchester United (England) vs Club Brugge (Belgium)
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) vs CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Second legs – August 26
Tomorrow – 20.45
Rapid Vienna (Austria) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
Valencia (Spain) vs Monaco (France)
Skenderbeu (Albania) vs Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
Celtic (Scotland) vs Malmo (Sweden)
Basel (Switzerland) vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel)
Second legs – August 25