The other British side in the draw Scotland’s Celtic play Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel while the plum ties cast Porto against Roma and Spain’s Villarreal versus Monaco.
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Pep Guardiola’s European debut with Manchester City will see them face off against Romanian side Steaua Bucharest.
The playoff round matches will be played over two legs with the first match day to take place on 17 and 18 August and match day two on either 23 or 24 August.
The Lilywhites found out their opponents on Friday although, ahead of the draw, goal-keeper Gary Rodgers told Ireland Live News that the glamour tie against Celtic was the most desired outcome. Winners of the two-legged ties will qualify for Champions League group stages – losers will drop into the Europa League.
“For them (Steaua) to be in that draw must mean they are a top team”.
Ties will be played on August 16/17 and 23/24.
Guardiola will take part in the Champions League qualifying round for the first time in his managerial career after City finished fourth in the Premier League last campaign.
The Spaniard, who won the competition twice as boss of Barcelona, will be tasked with improving on City’s best ever Champions League performance last season – making it to the semi-finals where they were knocked out by eventual winners Real Madrid. “We have a chance and for sure our players will have extra motivation”.
Croatian side Zagreb reached this stage with a 3-0 aggregate win over Dinamo Tbilisi while Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva defeated Olympiacos by a solitary goal.
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Dundalk, who now lead the League of Ireland, were the team with lowest coefficient rating in the draw and will play their home leg at the 51,700-seater Aviva Stadium in Dublin, rather than at the 4,500-capacity Oriel Park.
