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Arsenal vs. Beskitas highlights Champions League playoff draw

Ina Fassbender / REUTERS

The first legitimate Champions League pairings have been made as the draw for the tournament's playoff round were revealed Friday, featuring numerous matchups to whet the appetite of fans starved for the European competition.

Arsenal, looking to advance to their 15th consecutive appearance in the group stage, will have to get past Turkish side Beskitas in the opening round. It will be the first meeting between the two in a European competition when the first leg takes place Aug. 19 in Istanbul, with the second match on the 27th in London.

Rafael Benítez’s Napoli were handed a tough test after they were drawn with Athletic Bilbao of Spain, while Portuguese giants FC Porto and Lille should provide an exciting contest and Scottish champions Celtic, who were reinstated into the tournament, play Maribor of Slovenia.

Here's the rest of Champions League playoff fixtures:

Champions League play-off round
Beskitas v Arsenal
Maribor v Celtic
Napoli v Athletic Bilbao
Lille v Porto
FC Copenhagen v Bayer Leverkusen
Standard Liège v Zenit St Petersburg
Slovan Bratislava v Bate
Steaua Bucuresti v Ludogorets
Red Bull Salzburg v Malmo
Aalborg v Apoel Nicosia

Matches will be played Aug. 19-20 and 26-27.

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