Dundee United's lucrative challenge match against Barcelona at Tannadice on July 26 can now proceed after neighbours Dundee were drawn away to Alloa Athletic in the Challenge Cup on the same afternoon.

"Eddie Thompson will be delighted we're not playing at Dens Park," said Dundee's chief executive, David MacKinnon.

"We had already been assured by the SFA that, if we had been given a home tie, then we would have been given precedence because it's a competitive match."

No doubt Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry will be mightily relieved to hear that.