Rabotnichki will face HJK Helsinki in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

Rabotnichki have learned their opponent for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League today. Rabotnichki were an unseeded team placed in the third group and could have faced opponents like Steaua, Dinamo Zagreb, Ludogorets, Legia, Qarabağ and Helsinki. Rabotnichki were drawn first and then their opponents in Helsinki were revealed. 

Since Rabotnichki were drawn first, they will play the first match at home. Matches will be played on 15/16.07 and return legs 7 days later.

HJK, or simply Helsinki, have won last season’s Veikkausliiga quite convincingly, with 73 points from 33 rounds. The Finnish 2014 season is already under way and Helsinki are on top of the table once again. With 15 rounds played, they have collected 33 points, 9 more than Lahti who have a game in hand. Helsinki’s top goalscorer from last season is Mikael Forssell, a well-known Finnish player who was once part of English side Chelsea. The majority of HJK’s players come from Finland. Their current season top goalscorer is Macoumba Kandji, a Gambian attacker who has scored 6 goals so far. Along with Kandji, HJK have another Gambian in Demba Savage.

In last season’s qualifications for the Champions League, HJK have been eliminated in the second round to Estonian side JK Nõmme Kalju.