NYON: Fenerbahce will continue their return to European competition against Russia’s Spartak Moscow in the play-off round which was drawn today at the Nyon headquarters of the European federation, UEFA writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The clubs finished second in their domestic leagues last season, Fenerbahce after failing to win the decisive last match of the title play-offs against old Istanbul rivals Galatasaray. The result, which prompted fan violence inside and outside of the Fenerbahce stadium, was played amid high tension because of hte long-running matchfix case which saw Fenerbahce banned from the Champions League last season.

The shadow of that controversy will hang over the tie because Spartak’s Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike is coming  up against the club he left a year ago in acrimonious circumstances. Emenike had been a defendant in the Turkish corruption scandal over his transfer from Karabukspor to Fenerbahce in May 2011. He was cleared but never made an appearance for Fenerbahce.

Fenerbahce beat Vaslui of Romania 5-2 in the third qualifying round.

Play-off draw: Basel v CFR Cluj, Helsingborgs v Celtic, BATE Borisov v Hapoel Kiryat Shmona, AEL Limassol v Anderlecht, Dinamo Zagreb v NK Maribor, Braga v Udinese, Spartak Moscow v Fenerbahce, Málaga v Panathinaikos, Borussia Mönchengladbach v Kyiv Dynamo, Lille v FC København.

The first leg matches will take place August 21 and 22, with the second legs a week later. The 10  losers are guaranteed a spot in the group stage of the Europa League.

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