Cieślewicz brothers relishing European clash

"Mum has already said that she won't come to the stadium, because she doesn't know which team to support," revealed Łukasz Cieślewicz after Faroese champions B36 Tórshavn were pitted against Welsh domestic treble winners The New Saints FC in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League – a side which features his younger brother Adrian.

"I am excited about the tie," said former Wrexham AFC forward Adrian, speaking to UEFA.com. "It will be the first time that I have played against my brother in a competitive game. It's a good draw, but it's disappointing that one of us will be knocked out of the competition in the opening round."

The 24-year-old – who played for B36 last season after leaving Kidderminster Harriers FC – will revisit his former club and face his sibling when TNS travel in the Faroes for the first leg at Tórsvøllur Stadium on 1 July, before the return at Park Hall on 7 July.

Having featured in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round last season alongside his brother, when B36 were eliminated 3-2 on aggregate by Northern Ireland's Linfield FC, Adrian is now preparing to face Łukasz in Europe's elite competition: "I experienced playing in the Europa League with B36 last season, and I am really looking forward to playing in the Champions League this time around."

Łukasz, 27, is also relishing the tie and the chance to tackle his younger brother. "It's going to be fun to play against him," the former Brøndby IF player told UEFA.com. "Last year we played together on the same team for the first time and now for the first time we are going to play against each other. But, to be honest, I'm preparing the same way for that match as I would any other."

Although the pair were born in Poland, they grew up in the Faroes and have applied for citizenship in order to realise their dream of representing the nation at international level. Their bond to the islands began in 1999 when their father, Robert, joined ÍF Fuglafjørður before the forward made the switch to VB Vágur – winning the championship in 2000 and scoring eight goals in the process.

Both sons have title experience as well, Łukasz proving a key figure for B36 in their triumphant campaigns in 2011 and 2014. Adrian played a smaller role last year after joining in the summer, but he feels confident that his new club will be favourites against their part-time opponents.

"We can play our own style of football against a team like B36 and I think they will have to adapt their game against us, just like TNS have had to do against stronger teams in previous European fixtures."

Meanwhile, Łukasz predicts a tight contest against his brother's side, with the prize on offer a meeting with Hungarian champions Videoton FC in the second qualifying round: "I think they are favourites, but we have a chance and we are going to do everything to get to next round."