The Hachetmen flamboyant 2017-18 Champions in the Danske Bank Premiership of North Ireland. For the champions of this edition in the NIFL and looking forward to a successful run in the first rounds and maybe earn a spot in the final playoff to get into the stage group.
The Crusaders getting a draw to play, Bulgarian champions ever since the 2011-12 campaigns, Ludogoret Razgrad managed currently by first year Brazilian Paulo Autuori.
For the North Ireland champions will be business as usual and another challenge to tackle if they are to make it towards the finals stages of this competition and maybe a miraculous run can lead them to the coveted stage group.
After their league counterparts Cliftonville, Coleraine and Glenavon already getting their foes in the Europa League, the Hachetmen for sure will try to do their best to deliver a successful run in this event.
Either way this Champions league knockout rounds are no walk in the park and for Crusaders Manager Stephen Baxter all around challenges will be to mount a successful run from his current squad.
Still whomever the North Irelanders would been draw against, the pressure and difficulty of its foes background could still brought the above-mentioned challenges a competition of this kind brings to any club that finfishes atop their league.
As they could had a worse adversary in a group were the likes of Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), Legia Warzaw (Poland), Celtic Glasgow (Scotland), Malmö FF (Sweden), Apoel Cyprus (Cyprus) and Rosenburg (Norway).
Despite several international appearances for the Crusaders, luck has not been on their side.
Once again, the specter of advancing pas the first rounds surrounds the Northern Boys if this time they can pass the second rounds, after eliminations in past competitions in the first rounds and now the idea is to make a run as far as the playoffs.
This time in Champion League, knockouts are to face a Bulgarian foe and opening on the road at Ludogarets Arena in Ludogarets on July 1 at 8:00 PM and retuning to Seaview for the second leg on July 17 at 8:00 PM.
With the majority of the Crusaders roster returning and possible newcomers to incorporate to take part in the 2018-19 editions of the NIFL/ Danske Bank Premiership, the champions are ready for what seems a tough but not difficult competition in this edition of the Champions League.
For Crues manager Stephen Baxter will be business as usual and once again to dream along his squad to make a prolific and successful run to become this association first to do such a feat and make it all the way to the stage group or maybe net a direct Europa League spot.
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of Crusaders Football Club 2018
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017 Northern Ireland Football League
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