The draw for the Europa League first qualifying round was made at noon today with Aberdeen being included in the draw. The result is that Aberdeen will face Latvian side Daugava Riga on the 3rd July at home and then on the 10th away in Latvia.
The Latvian outfit currently sit in 7th place after 17 games in the Latvian higher league, which contains ten teams. Now you could look at that statistic with two viewpoints, one is that they are half way through their season and will be fit, ready and raring to go against us. Or that they have won only five games out of seventeen and do not appear to be in the best of form.
Daugava Riga will have their first ever taste of European football when taking on Aberdeen as this is the first time they have qualified. On the other hand the Dons a European hardened club will travel to Daugava Riga's stadium on 10th July which holds just over 5,000 supporters.
The word "Riga" sends a shiver down any Dons fan's neck who is old enough to remember bowing out of the competition prematurely and it has to be said embarrassingly 20 years ago to Skonto Riga in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round. Aberdeen were eliminated on goal difference following a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie and it was not a European experience to remember.
Aberdeen now, have virtually no time to prepare for the upcoming match in 10 days time but will have to be both physically and mentally ready when they host the Latvian side on the 3rd July.
If Aberdeen do manage to progress through the initial qualifying round they will have to face Dutch side Groningen.
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