Audio By Carbonatix
Liverpool have been drawn to face German side Hoffenheim in the Champions League play-off, with Celtic taking on Astana.
Celtic have a reunion with Kazakh side FC Astana, who they beat at the third qualifying round last season, with a narrow 3-2 win on aggregate.
Liverpool were denied a meeting with Mario Balotelli's Nice, who had the toughest draw in landing Napoli, but will be wary of an impressive Hoffenheim outfit.
They finished just two points behind Klopp's old side Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga last season and in Julian Nagelsmann, who only turned 30 in July, they have a very young and highly regarded coach.
He was named German coach of the year in March and has revealed in the past that he and Klopp exchange messages.
Nagelsmann told The Sun last November: “Jurgen has been in touch to say ‘well done’ after a good match, like when we beat his old club Mainz. I also write him messages.”
" My approach is a mix of Klopp’s philosophy of pressing and winning the ball back quickly, rapid transition and counters and then Pep Guardiola and Tuchel’s ideas on possession."
The first legs will be played on August 15/16, with the second legs taking place on August 22/23. The 10 winners of the ties below will go into the group stage of the Champions League.
League route
- Istanbul Basaksehir v Sevilla
- Young Boys v CSKA Moscow
- Napoli v Nice
- Hoffenheim v Liverpool
- Sporting v FCSB
Champions route
- Celtic v FC Astana
- Qarabag v Copenhagen
- APOEL v Slavia Prague
- Olympiacos v HNK Riejka
- Hapoel Beer-Sheva v NK Maribor
Latest Stories
-
Earlier passage of BoG’s Amendment Bill could have prevented haircuts – Dr. Asiama
23 minutes -
Economic stability gains were hard-won through discipline and institutional effort – BoG Governor
37 minutes -
GCB Bank rewards customers at first “Pa To Pa” Promo Draw
46 minutes -
EC sets March 3 for Ayawaso East by-election
1 hour -
Call for Applications: WikkiTimes launches Anas Aremeyaw Anas AI fellowship
1 hour -
GPL 2025/26: Dreams hold Hearts as Phobians record 8th draw
1 hour -
If you attempt to bribe a police officer now, he will disgrace you; he wants a promotion – IGP Yohuno
1 hour -
This Saturday on Newsfile: NPP Presidential primaries, Ofori-Atta, Sedina detention and LGBTQ-tainted manual
1 hour -
BoG to deepen media engagement and reward quality economic reporting – Governor
2 hours -
Photos: The Multimedia Group thanksgiving service 2026
2 hours -
BoG declares 2025 ‘Year of Restoration’ as inflation crashes and reserves hit 27-year high
2 hours -
2026 is the ‘Year of Action’ for Petroleum Hub project – Dr Toni Aubynn
3 hours -
Sedina Tamakloe set for January 21 US court hearing – Victor Smith
3 hours -
‘Ministerial signature is not ceremonial ink’ – CDM questions Education Minister’s role in curriculum saga
3 hours -
Multimedia Group Kumasi staff gathers to celebrate 31 years of broadcasting and community service
3 hours
