Arsenal Face Fenerbahçe In Champions League Play-Off

Back By The Bosphorus

Arsenal have been drawn to face Turkish club Fenerbahçe in the Champions League play-offs.

Fenerbahçe are awaiting a final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over whether they will be allowed to go into the competition proper this season, having been banned from competing in Europe by UEFA for match-fixing in domestic competition.

They have challenged that ruling and a CAS verdict is due before the group stage draw is made, but home and away matches against Arsenal stand to go ahead before that decision arrives.

Arsenal won 5-2 in Istanbul five years ago

UEFA today said no decision has yet been made regarding what would happen in the event of Fenerbahçe winning the tie and losing their CAS appeal.

Fenerbahçe finished second in the Turkish Super Lig last season, while Arsenal took fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

The Gunners defeated Fener 5-2 in the 2008 Champions League group stage.

Celtic have been drawn against Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan in what appears a favourable draw, travel notwithstanding, for Neil Lennon's team as they bid to reach the group stages.

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