ABERDEEN and St Johnstone face the prospect of arduous trips across the continent as they seek to progress into the Europa League.

In this afternoon’s draw in Nyon, both clubs were handed difficult ties in the first qualifying round which kicks off in little over a week.

For SPFL Premiership runners-up Aberdeen, short jaunts down to Wales to play Bala Town or over to Northern Ireland to meet Glenavon were not forthcoming. Instead, Derek McInnes’ team will travel to Macedonia where KF Shkendija await them.

St Johnstone’s route into the second qualifying round also looks slightly precarious ahead of their meeting with Alashkert.

The Armenians are based in the small town of Martuni, which is located just a 45-minute away from the Azerbaijan border.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who enter in the second round of qualifying, will play FC Astra of Romania, who Celtic faced in last year's group stage.