A look at Derry City's potential UEFA Europa League opponents

The Candy Stripes who return to European competition for the first time since 2018 on August 27th next will face one of three sides in a one-off match.

Declan Devine's men were unseeded in group two alongside Estonian side, Paide Linnameeskond and Inter Turku of Finland and will face one of three seeded teams.

We've taken a quick look at Derry's potential opponents here ahead of the draw which is scheduled for 12 noon.

The tie could be played at a neutral venue but as Derry could face one of two teams from Lithuania and one from Hungary, both countries are on the Republic of Ireland 'green list' where travellers can visit and not self-isolate on their return. Today's draw will decide who gets home advantage.

FK Zalgiris

Lithuanian ouftit, FK Zalgiris are currently top of the country's top division on goal difference after 14 games played this season.

They boast former Cork City defender, Rimvydas Sadauskas among their ranks as well as 18 year-old Nigerian striker, Emmanuel David, his fellow countryman, Philip Otele who scored in the club's 3-0 win over Banga last Friday.

Former Liverpool and Paris St Germain striker David N’Gog played with the club for a short spell before retiring earlier this year.

FK Roteriai

Based in Vilnius, FK Roteria are currently in sixth place in the six team Lithuanian A Lyga. They have previous Europa League experience but have never met an Irish side.

In five Europa League appearances the club has progressed through the first round qualifiers on three occasions, in 2015 when defeating HB Torshavn from the Faroe Islands, in 2017 in a 3-1 aggregate win over St Johnstone and in 2018 when defeating Pavlodar Irtysh from Kazakhstan.

Budapest Honvéd

The club of former three times European Cup winner, Ferenc Puskás who helped Honved to five league championships during the late 40s and early 50s.

Not only did the club introduced Puskas to the world but it also contributed seven of the ‘Mighty Magyars’ whose Hungarian team conquered England at Wembley in 1953’s “Match of the Century” – luminaries like Sándor Kocsis, József Bozsik, Zoltán Czibor and Gyula Grosics.

They are reigning Hungaraian Cup champions as Djordje Kamber clinched the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Mezokovesd-Zsory, at the Puskas Ferenc Arena.

Since 964, Derry City have faced 20 different teams in European competition but have never met either Lithuanian or Hungarian opposition.