Spellcheck On: 9 Times English Clubs Came Up Against Unknown Opposition in Europe
While playing in European competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League is deemed by many as the pinnacle of club competition, that doesn't mean that every team that competes is a household name.
UEFA have made attempts to allow more teams from across the continent to compete, leading to fans having to research prospective opponents regarding who they are and where they actually play.
Ahead of Chelsea's Europa League tie against Hungarian side Mol Vidi FC, here are nine occasions English clubs have played against teams in Europe we've never heard of:
1. Manchester United vs LKS Lodz (Champions League 1998/1999)
Prior to Manchester United's Champions League triumph in 1999, the Red Devils' journey began in August that season, with a second qualifying round tie against Polish league champions LKS Lodz.
The first game at Old Trafford however saw the tie won for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, as goals from Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole sealed a 2-0 win for the Premier League side, while a goalless draw in Poland meant United advanced to the group stages, before eventually winning the competition in Barcelona against Bayern Munich.
2. Chelsea vs Skonto FC (Champions League 1999/2000)
For Chelsea to reach the group stages of the 1999/2000 Champions League, the Blues had to overcome Latvian side Skonto FC in the third qualifying round.
Having only been founded in 1991, the club won 14 league titles in succession up to 2004, with their last coming in 2010, although their domestic success counted for little during this one-sided playoff.
Although frustrating Chelsea in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, the home side found the breakthrough in the final 15 minutes thanks to Celestine Babayaro, before goals from Gus Poyet and Chris Sutton confirmed a 3-0 win for the Premier League side, with a goalless draw in Riga confirming the Blues' place in that year's Champions League.
3. Leeds United vs Metalurh Zaporizhya (UEFA Cup 2002/2003)
Back when Leeds United were regular competitors on the European scene, their first round game in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup certainly threw up an uncommon opponent in shape of Metalurh Zaporizhya.
The Ukrainian club, who went bankrupt in 2015, were competing in the competition for the first time, and managed to hold the Yorkshire to club to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in home, with Nick Barmby scoring an equaliser ahead of the return leg at Elland Road.
Despite their efforts, the second leg proved to be a bridge too far for the Ukrainian side, as Alan Smith netted ten minutes from tie to end Metalurh Zaporizhya's European adventure.
4. Newcastle United vs Zeljeznicar (Champions League 2002/2003)
Another side that used to appear in Europe with far more regularity, Newcastle had to overcome Bosnian side Zeljeznicar Sarajevo in a Champions League third round qualifier in 2002 in order to reach the group stage.
The first leg, played in Bosnia's capital of Sarajevo, was a tight affair, with Kieron Dyer's goal the difference at the Grbavica Stadium heading into the return leg at St James' Park.
Newcastle however showed the gulf in class between the two sides in the second leg, as goals from Dyer, Lomana LuaLua, Hugo Viana and Alan Shearer completed the 4-0 rout against for six-time Bosnian league champions.
5. Everton vs SK Brann (UEFA Cup 2007/2008)
After finishing top of Group A, Everton were drawn against the little known Norwegian side SK Brann in the last 32, although made light work of the minnows.
Goals from Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe sealed a 2-0 win in Bergen against the three time Norwegian league champions, before a Yakubu hat-trick, Andrew Johnson brace and Mikel Arteta strike at Goodison Park confirming a comprehensive 6-1 win on the night, winning the tie 8-1 on aggregate, which was SK Brann's most recent appearance in a European competition.
6. Liverpool vs Debrecini VSC (Champions League 2009/10)
Only once have Debrecini VSC - the seven-time Hungarian league champions - ever made it to the group stages in the Champions League, which came in the 2009/10 competition when they were grouped alongside quarter-finalists the season prior in Liverpool.
The Reds claimed wins in both encounters, with Dirk Kuyt scoring the only goal of the game at Anfield, while David Ngog's effort repeated the scoreline in Debrecen, although poor results against Group F opponents Fiorentina and Lyon meant Liverpool finished third in the group, while Debrecini VSC finished bottom with six defeats.
7. Manchester City vs Aris Thessalonika (Europa League 2010/11)
Despite the club being bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, Manchester City still had to contend with a few years in the Europa League before eventually reaching the Champions League.
The 2010/11 season was no different, as the Citizens facedAris Thessalonika in the last 32, and while the Greek side weren't exactly well-known, had beaten Atletico Madrid home and away in the group stages.
After earning a 0-0 draw in Greece, an Edin Dzeko brace and Yaya Toure goal helped City to a 3-0 win, before exiting the competition at the next stage against Benfica.
8. Tottenham Hotspur vs Sheriff Tiraspol (Europa League 2013/14)
Tottenham's 2013/14 Europa League group was hardly filled with established names, although the most obscurely named side came in the shape of Moldova's Sheriff Tiraspol.
The club are the most successful in Moldovan club football, winning the league title on 16 occasions, although couldn't make it past the group stage in that year's edition.
Goals from Jan Vertonghan and Christian Eriksen confirmed a 2-0 win at the Sheriff Stadium, although the Moldovan side made life difficult for Spurs in the return fixture at White Hart Lane, with Erik Lamela and Jermain Defoe scoring in a narrow 2-1 win.
9. Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava (Europa League 2018/19)
The most recent encounter on this list was Arsenal's opening game of the 2018/19 Europa League, as they ran out 4-2 winners against Vorskla Poltava.
Reaching the competition after finishing third in the Ukrainian Premier League last season, they rallied well after going four goals down thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace and strikes from Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes at the Emirates.
The return fixture will take place at the end of November, when Unai Emery's side travel to Oleksiy Butovsky Vorskala Stadium in Poltava, central Ukraine.