Atalanta-Ajax is standout game in Conference League draw that sends Salah’s Trabzonspor to Red Star

Ajax will face Atalanta in the marquee fixture of the Conference League after a 36-team draw announced on Friday. The two clubs previously competed in the Champions League the previous season. Trabzonspor, led by former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, will play in the lower-tier Conference League. The Turkish club will host Freiburg, Heart of Midlothian, and KuPS Kuopio of Finland in their six-game schedule.

Additionally, Trabzonspor will visit Red Star Belgrade, KuPS Kuopio, and CSKA Sofia during their campaign. Atalanta, the 2024 Europa League winner, will entertain Ajax at their home ground as well. They will travel to Cyprus, Sweden, and Kazakhstan for their away matches. Monaco will play twice in Britain, taking on Brighton and Heart of Midlothian, before hosting Freiburg.

Brighton owner Tony Bloom will avoid a match against Hearts, where he holds a minority stake of 29%, in accordance with UEFA's rules against excessive ownership. Brighton will also face Getafe and Panathinaikos in their away games. Andorra debuts in a UEFA competition as Inter Escaldes takes on Copenhagen, the 1991 Champions League champions.

Inter Escaldes will travel to Red Star, Getafe, and Mjallby during their Conference League run. The Conference League begins on October 15 and concludes with the final match on June 2 in Istanbul at Besiktas' stadium.