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          West Ham start Europa League campaign with trip to Andorra

          • ESPN staffJun 22, 2015, 07:58 AM ET

          West Ham will start their season in Andorra next week after being drawn to play FC Lusitans in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

          The Hammers qualified for Europe after finishing top of the Premier League's fair play standings, but that also meant an early start to the 2015-16 campaign with the first leg on July 2 before the return game at Upton Park on July 9.

          It means new manager Slaven Bilic, who was appointed just two weeks ago following the departure of Sam Allardyce, faces an immediate return to competitive action without a preseason to speak of. West Ham must negotiated four qualifying rounds, playing eight games, if they are to make the group stage.

          There are 51 ties in the first qualifying round.

          If West Ham manage to navigate their way past Lusitans, they will take on Birkirkara of Malta or Ulisses from Armenia. Those ties are due to be played July 16 and 23

          The third qualifying round will take place on July 30 and 6, with the final qualifying round on August 20 and 27. The Europa League group stage starts on September 17.