West Ham United have been drawn against Romanian club Astra Giurgiu for the second successive season in the Europa League qualifiers.
Astra emerged as victors in the third qualifying round 12 months ago, when West Ham threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Upton Park in the first leg before losing the return 2-1 despite scoring first once again.
Slaven Bilic will take his side to Giurgiu in the final playoff round on Thursday, Aug. 18 before welcoming them to the London Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 25.
Italian debutants Sassuolo have been drawn against Serbian side Red Star Belgrade, while St Etienne of Ligue 1 head to Israel to play Beitar Jerusalem.
BREAKING: West Ham United will face Romanian champions Astra Giurgiu in the @EuropaLeague Play-off round ⚒ pic.twitter.com/gxkISLxxqL
- West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) August 5, 2016
Playoff round, ties to be played Aug. 18 and 25:
OTHER TEAMS TO ENTER
Group stage: Schalke, Zenit, Manchester United, Athletic Bilbao, Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Braga, Standard Liege, Celta Vigo, Feyenoord, Mainz, FC Zurich, Southampton, Nice, Zorya Luhansk, Konyaspor (plus 10 UCL playoff round losers)