There are some real crowd-pullers in store in the first qualifying round of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, after a dozen or so clubs from the former Yugoslavia were drawn to play each other.

The meeting of Montenegros Buducnost Podgorica and Croatian campaigners Hajduk Split, the winners of four league titles in the former Yugoslavia, has prompted instant security concerns as both clubs have die-hard fan sections.

Both clubs have passionate fans but I am sure the two-leg clash will be remembered only for the football, said Montenegro Football Association Secretary Momir Djurdjevac after the draw in Nyon.

Serbias Partizan Belgrade are up against Bosnian rivals Zrinjski Mostar in what should be another fierce dogfight. Although the Bosnian league is still a far cry from being a force even in the Balkans, the national teams steady improvement has given hope that an abundance of natural talent my start translating into decent results at club level too.

Bosnian Cup winners Siroki Brijeg will start as favourites against Slovenias NK Koper, whose local rivals Gorica should have the edge against Macedonian opposition Rabotnicki Skopje. 

Former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade have high hopes of reaching the Champions league group stage for the first time and their quest begins in the second qualifying round, where they could meet Macedonias Pobeda Prilep. 

Countries that emerged from the former Yugoslavias break-up have modest soccer leagues and have made no impact in Europe since Red Stars 1991 success. Their rivalry, however, at least ensures unreserved passion on the pitch and raucous support from the terraces, while putting security officials to the test very early in the season.

Zoran Milosavljevic, Belgrade