Shamrock Rovers route ahead in Europe - eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers, the Hoops still have two shots at group stage glory

The wait to claim the ultimatum prize of Champions League group stage qualification for a League of Ireland club will continue for another season. 

While Shamrock Rovers beat Ludogorets 2-1 in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, their sixth win from their last nine home European ties, the League of Ireland champions exited the Champions League qualifiers at the second qualifying round losing 4-2 on aggregate to the Bulgarian champions. 

Remainers

Rovers remain in Europe though as elimination from the Champions League qualifiers at this stage sees them parachuted into the Europa League qualifiers.

In 2011, similarly Rovers exited after two rounds in the Champions League qualification but they dropped directly into the Europa League play-off (where they beat Partizan Belgrade to become the first League of Ireland club to make the group stages of a UEFA club competition).

This season after elimination from the Champions League qualifiers, they enter the Europa League third qualifying round (one short of the play-off stage). However the Hoops still have a further safety net as if they lose in this next tie they then drop into the Europa Conference League play-off.

Next steps 

Rovers’ next set of European fixtures was confirmed on Wednesday by the club as in the Europa League third qualifying round they will play the first leg against North Macedonian side Shkupi in Tallaght on Thursday 4^thAugust (kick-off 8pm). 

The second leg will take place in Skopje on Tuesday 9^th August (kick-off 8pm Irish time).

Show me the money

The Hoops have at worst guaranteed themselves a place in the Europa Conference League play-off round as if they lose to Shkupi they make that play-off. Lose at that stage and they would bank €1.41m. Qualification for the Europa Conference League group stages is worth €3.3m to Rovers (including prize money earned to date).

Conference Leaguge group stage performance bonuses are paid for a win (€500,000) and a draw (€166,000), with further bonus’ for the group winners (€650,000) and runners-up (€325,000). 

If the Hoops eliminate Shkupi, they would make the Europa League play-off. Winning the Europa League play-off, would see the Hoops equal Dundalk in making the group stages of the Europa League on two occasions.

Qualification to the Europa League group stage earns Rovers €3.63m with clubs banking further bonuses based on results - €630,000 per win and €210,000 per draw.

Lose the Europa League play-off and Rovers would automatically be entered into the Europa Conference League group stages (banking €3.3m before any performance bonuses in the group stage).  

Play-off dates

Tuesday 4^th August is the date for the play-off draw for both the Europa League (if Rovers beat Shkupi) and the Europa Conference League (if Rovers lose to Shkupi).

The play-off matches will then take place on 18th and 25th August.

Group stage dates

With the World Cup in Qatar kicking off on 21 November, the group stages of the Europa League and Europa Conference League are squeezed into six match nights between the first week of September and first week of November.

Power switches to Shamrock Rovers https://t.co/pDIOiqvjs4pic.twitter.com/rYsrCA9ewk

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 27, 2022