From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
Teams in CAPITALS through to CLQ2, losers go to ConfLQ2 (Champions
Path), except V|!kingur and Virtus who have a bye to ConfLQ3 (Champions
Path)
* = seeded team



July 15


FC KAIRAT (KAZ) v NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* 2-0 (2-0), 3-1 on aggregate (Jorginho 5', Mrynskiy 31')

Former Luxembourg league top scorer Jorginho got the Kazakh champions
the early lead because his header from distance bounced straight over
the arms of Gal Lubej-Fink: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496673/101408-Record_2025_07_15_17_05_47_39.mp4
Olimpija's young reserve keeper - their number one Vidov+iek is nursing
an injury - also made the mistake playing from the back that resulted in Jorginho providing a through ball that Kairat right-back Aleksandr
Mrynskiy on his 21st birthday had no problems slotting in. But
goalkeeping wasn't the only problem for the Slovenian champions that
day, they also didn't manage to muster a shot on target all match.

Last year Olimpija survived the Conference League group stage while
their compatriots Celje made it to the quarterfinals and gave Fiorentina
a run for their money there. That's all still possible for Olimpija, but they're not off to an auspicious start. They had been the third-highest
seed, too.


LINCOLN RED IMPS (GIB)* v V|!kingur (FAR) 1-0 (0-0), 4-2 on aggregate
(De Barr 90'+6)

The Faroese hit the crossbar in the first half, and when they threw
everything forward in the dying seconds Tjay De Barr finished them off
on the break.


-aAMRUN SPARTANS FC (MLT) v FK ++algiris (LTU)* 2-0 aet (2-0, 2-0), 2-2 on aggregate, Spartans win 11-10 on penalties
(Thioune 35', Mbong 41'; Red Card: Radenovi-c (++al) 114')

The Spartans made up the first-leg deficit already before the break -
Joseph Mbong had already seen a goal disallowed by VAR for offside
before newly signed Italian-Nigerian forward Saliou Thioune headed them
in front, and six minutes later Mbong made it two with a great shot from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496675/101476-Record_2025_07_15_19_42_25_2.mp4
The Maltese champions continued to dominate against poor Lithuanians,
but a third goal eluded them thanks to good saves by Zalgiris's
Venezuelan keeper Carlos Olses, even after Montenegrin centre-back
Vasilije Radenovi-c had been sent off with a second booking. To penalties
then, and in a long shoot-out during which all players including the goalkeepers had to take at least one the Spartans twice hit the crossbar
when they could have won the tie. Third time's the charm though, and
after ++algiris's Ghanaian midfielder Ebenezer Ofori had sent his effort
high and wide Jovan -ia-aenovi-c, a Montenegrin on the Maltese side who had actually missed his spot kick during the first round of penalties,
calmly rolled the ball in for the win.

Fourteen rounds of penalties, that's by my reckoning on a par with the second-longest previous shoot-out in European cups (G++ira v Glentaron in 2023-24) and three rounds short of the European record set by Ajax and Panathinaikos last season.

A great success for the Maltese champions, who will now have three
chances to reach a first ever European group/league phase for their
country.


FC Milsami Orhei (MDA) v KUPS (FIN)* 0-0 (0-0), 0-1 on aggregate

Norwegian-Zambian forward Kabamba Kalabatama, who had left the Norwegian
third tier for a Moldavian adventure, missed the empty net with a volley
from three metres out in what was the best chance of the match for
Milsami. Otherwise, Kuopio's Austrian keeper Kreidl rather easily kept
the clean sheet.


MALM|u FF (SWE)* v FC Iberia 1999 (GEO) 3-1 (0-0), 6-2 on aggregate
(Ali 55', 89', Jansson 60'; Dzagania 90'+3;
Red Card: Mamageishvili (Ibe) 62')

Following a rather sleepy first half in which the Georgians in vain
clamoured for what could well have been a penalty Malm|| turned on the
heat right after the break. Taha Ali ran onto Lasse Berg Johnsen's long
ball over the top and chipped expertly over Iberia keeper Makaridze: https://giphy.com/media/unTFiCFpmeDhHeZuL5/giphy.gif
Former Brentford centre-half Pontus Jansson headed in Malm||'s second
from a corner kick, and after Iberia captain Gizo Mamageishvili had been
sent off for using Otto Rosengren as his involuntary partner in some
kind of acrobatic roll:
https://giphy.com/media/5GHz63HkonaZUeZtgg/giphy.gif
the Swedish champions had tons of more chances, saw a goal cancelled by
VAR for the narrowest of offsides, and Ali added his second of the
evening following a well-executed passing move: https://giphy.com/media/6efnCVer07CUR4e3vt/giphy.gif
In stoppage time ten Georgians at least scored a consolation goal thanks
to substitute Amirani Dzagania's well-placed shot into the far corner: https://giphy.com/media/BfRcJz9S37bkS7gzfH/giphy.gif


FK RFS (LAT)* v FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST) 1-0 (0-0), 2-0 on aggregate
(Pani-c 68')

Just as in the first leg Stefan Pani-c, who had already seen a goal
chalked off by VAR for offside early in the first half, proved decisive
as the Serbian volleyed in a cross by Roberts Sava-+nieks. Levadia ought
to have scored at least the equaliser, but in stoppage time RFS's new Austro-Croatian goalkeeper Marko Mari-c acrobatically pushed Oliver
Roosnupp's point-blank shot onto the crossbar.


KF SHK|iNDIJA (MKD) v The New Saints FC (WAL)* 2-1 aet (1-1, 1-1), 2-1 on aggregate
(Tamba 18', Bodenham 116' (og); J. Williams 38')

In a much more open match than the first leg Shk|2ndija hit the post
already early on while TNS had a goal disallowed by VAR for offside. Shk|2ndija's indefatigable captain Besart Ibraimi, going on 39 by now,
created the opener by turning TNS right-back Kade Craig inside out
before sending in a low cross that goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd pushed
onto the foot of Senegalese winger Fabrice Tamba: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496679/101485-Record_2025_07_15_20_19_05_184.mp4
The Welsh champions got a very lucky equaliser when Daniel Williams's
harmless shot got deflected straight towards namesake Jordan Williams
who turned it into the gaping net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496679/101492-Record_2025_07_15_20_54_02_600.mp4
A close offside then prevented Shk|2ndija from being awarded a late
penalty, but the Albanian Macedonians still got the winner in extra time
when Jack Bodenham stuck out a leg to steer a cross by the substitute
Fiton Ademi into his own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496679/101572-Record_2025_07_15_22_28_29_512.mp4


FC Differdange 03 (LUX) v FC DRITA (KOS)* 2-3 (1-2), 2-4 on aggregate
(Brusco 28', Hadji 90' (pen); Manaj 4', 17', Tusha 90'+3)

Drita took a seemingly unassailable three-goal aggregate lead thanks to
Arb Manaj's two early goals - one with a shot from a very tight angle
and one with a turn-and-volley after the Luxembourgish defence had
failed to deal with a cross, with Differdingen's veteran Brazilian
goalkeeper Felipe not looking too good on either occasion. French
centre-back Th|-o Brusco pulled one back from a corner kick, and things
got hectic in stoppage time - first VAR awarded Differdingen a penalty
for a flying elbow to bring them within one goal of extra time, but only minutes later a lost ball in midfield led to a counter-attack that the substitute Veton Tusha with a little luck finished off to give Drita the
win after all.


Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND) v FC FCSB (ROM)* 2-1 (0-0), 3-4 on aggregate (Andreu 67', Llovet 88'; Radunovi-c 51')

Not-Steaua appeared to be firmly in control of the tie, especially after
their veteran Montenegrin left-back Risto Radunovi-c had chipped Florin T-anase's feed over Inter keeper Javi D|!az (two La Liga matches for
Sevilla), but the Andorran champions had already proved in the first leg
that they were by no means pushovers, and two headers by 38-year-old
long-time Segunda B striker Sascha Andreu: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496681/101526-Record_2025_07_15_21_54_31_340.mp4
and Montpellier-trained Frenchman Alexandre Llovet: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496681/101526-Record_2025_07_15_21_54_31_340.mp4
gave them a win that wasn't at all undeserved. In between those goals
the Andorrans had also hit the crossbar, and FCSB keeper T|ornovanu was
called into action several times.

Even though they lost the aggregate tie, this must count as one of the
major scalps in the history of Andorran club football. It's not every
day you beat a former European Cup winner. Now if only VAR hadn't
cancelled that Inter goal in the first leg...


BREI|EABLIK (ISL)* v KF Egnatia (ALB) 5-0 (4-0), 0-1 on aggregate (|Rorsteinsson 16', 27', V.K. Einarsson 23', 38', |omarsson 69')

A rough awakening for the Albanians on Iceland. 20-year-old |Ug||st Orri |Rorsteinsson started the rout on the break, Viktor Karl Einarsson made
it two from a low cross, |Ug||st Orri got his second after a cross had
eluded the poorly positioned Egnatia defence: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496682/101504-Record_2025_07_15_21_26_03_768.mp4
and Viktor Karl likewise got a brace by turning in the rebound after
Egnatia keeper Dajsinani had parried |oli Valur |omarsson's shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496682/101510-Record_2025_07_15_21_37_01_364.mp4
In the second half |oli Valur made it five with a solo effort.


H+aK ZRINJSKI MOSTAR (BIH)* v AC Virtus (SMR) 2-1 (1-0), 4-1 on aggregate (Mami-c 40', Bilbija 75'; Scappini 90'+2 (pen))

Petar Mami-c's deflected shot curved over Virtus keeper Passaniti and
Zrinjski captain Nemanja Bilbija rounded Passaniti after a blocked shot
had fallen to him kindly, but after the merciless VAR had already taken
a goal away from them the valiantly fighting Sammarinese at least still
got the consolation goal thanks to a last-second penalty.


FK Budu-cnost Podgorica (MNE)* v FC NOAH (ARM) 2-2 (0-2), 2-3 on aggregate (Ivanovi-c 68', Grbi-c 90'+1; Oulad Omar 6', Grgi-c 29';
Red Card: Bulatovi-c (Bud) 17')

As in the first leg Dutch journeyman Imran Oulad Omar opened the scoring
with a shot from distance, and soon afterwards Budu-cnost striker Ivan Bulatovi-c stupidly collected two bookings in the space of three minutes,
the second for giving the ref a piece of his mind. Noah's newly signed
Croatian winger Alen Grgi-c made it two after the Montenegrin defence had
given away the ball to Portuguese winger H|-lder Ferreira: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496684/101507-Record_2025_07_15_21_29_27_39.mp4
One man and three goals on aggregate down Budu-cnost looked done and
dusted, but in the second half a shot from distance by Igor Ivanovi-c
surprised Noah keeper Chancharevich to pull one back for the
Montenegrins: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496684/101570-Record_2025_07_15_22_27_54_646.mp4
In the 89th minute Matheus Ai|is should have restored Noah's two-goal
lead but his poor penalty was saved by Budu-cnost's young keeper Filip Domazetovi-c, and at the other end veteran Petar Grbi-c even scored the equaliser. There wasn't enough time left though to chase the goal that
would have sent the tie to extra time.



July 16


Linfield FC (NIR)* v SHELBOURNE FC (IRL) 1-1 (1-1), 1-2 on aggregate
(Shields 45'+3 (pen); Coote 25'; Red Card: Hall (Lin) 64')

Linfield were the better team in the first half, but they failed to
take their chances, most egregiously when Shels keeper Conor Kearns
carelessly gave the ball away to Matthew Fitzpatrick who with the whole
empty goal at his mercy sent his first-touch shot pitifully wide. So it
was the Irish champions who took the lead when Ali Coote sent a precise
shot through a tangle of legs and into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496685/101655-Record_2025_07_16_21_10_19_570.mp4
A handball penalty in stoppage time of the first half gave Linfield some
hope again, but they once more shot themselves in the foot when their 18-year-old right-back Matthew Orr lost the ball as second-to-last man,
and Ben Hall came in late and scythed down Mipe Odubeko to get sent
straight off.


FC Dinamo Minsk (BLR) v PFC LUDOGORETS 1945 (BUL)* 2-2 aet (0-1, 2-1),
2-3 on aggregate
(Djimet 54', Pedro Igor 62'; Erick Marcus 41', Bile 100')

In Mez+ak||vesd in central-eastern Hungary a hard shot by Brazilian winger Erick Marcus, previously of Vasco, gave the Bulgarian champions the
important lead, but Dinamo turned the match around in the second half -
Central African Republic international Moustapha Djimet slotted in a low
cross and the Belarusians could draw on some Brazilian trickery of their
own as Pedro Igor turned two defenders inside out before firing past Ludogorets's Dutch keeper Sergio Padt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496686/101674-Record_2025_07_16_22_03_45_994.mp4
In extra time a VAR offside prevented Dinamo from taking the lead, and
the Belarusians also had a couple more big opportunities, but a howler
by their goalkeeper Denis Shpakovsky decided the tie - he completely
mishandled a hopeful looping cross by Ludogorets's newly signed Swedish right-back Joel Andersson, and the ball fell for the young Ivorian
substitute Yves Erick Bile who volleyed into the empty net.

Typical Ludogorets in early qualifying rounds, always flirting with
disaster but rarely succumbing.





Draw for Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round (July 22/23 and 29/30)
* = seeded team
Winners go to CLQ3, Losers go to ELQ3

The winners of the ties below are already guaranteed at least Conference
League group stage (Champions Path) or Europa League group stage (League
Path).

CLQ2 is often the most boring qualification round of them all, with
the widest gap between seeded and non-seeded teams and usually few
surprises. Let's see how it's going to shake out this time around.


Champions Path

FK RFS (LAT) v Malm|| FF (SWE)*
-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)*
Pafos FC (CYP) v Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)*
Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) v FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)*

FC Noah (ARM) v Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)*
KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)* v Brei|#ablik (ISL)
FC K|+benhavn (DEN)* v FC Drita (KOS)
HNK Rijeka (CRO) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*

KF Shk|2ndija (MKD) v FC FCSB (ROM)*
+aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* v H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)
Shelbourne FC (IRL) v Qaraba-f FK (AZE)*
KuPS (FIN) v FC Kairat (KAZ)*


League Path

SK Brann (NOR) v RB Salzburg (AUT)*
FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE)* v Servette FC (SUI)
Rangers FC (SCO)* v Panathinaikos FC (GRE)




Ciao,
Werner
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Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Draw for Champions League 3nd Qualifying Round (August 5/6 and 12)
* = seeded team
Winners go to CLPO, Losers in the Champions Path go to ELPO, Losers in
the League Path go to EL League Stage.


Champions Path

FK RFS (LAT)/Malm|| FF (SWE) v FC K|+benhavn (DEN)/FC Drita (KOS)*
KuPS (FIN)/FC Kairat (KAZ) v +aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)/H+aK Zrinjski
Mostar (BIH)*
KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)/Brei|#ablik (ISL) v Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)/FK
Crvena Zvezda (SRB)*

HNK Rijeka (CRO)/PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) v FC Noah (ARM)/Ferencv|irosi
TC (HUN)*
-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT)/FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Pafos FC (CYP)/Maccabi
Tel Aviv FC (ISR)*
KF Shk|2ndija (MKD)/FC FCSB (ROM) v Shelbourne FC (IRL)/Qaraba-f FK (AZE)*


League Path

SK Brann (NOR)/RB Salzburg (AUT) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)*
Rangers FC (SCO)/Panathinaikos FC (GRE)* v FC Viktoria Plze+e
(CZE)/Servette FC (SUI)
OGC Nice (FRA) v SL Benfica (POR)*
Feyenoord (NED)* v Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR)



Ciao,
Werner
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From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round 1st leg
* = seeded team


July 22


Champions Path


KuPS (FIN) v FC Kairat (KAZ)* 2-0 (0-0)
(Toure 49', Oksanen 71')

The first half was even and Kairat had a goal disallowed for offside,
but two great shots from practically the same spot at the edge of the
area guaranteed the win for the Finnish champions - first young Guinean
striker Mohamed Toure fired into the top right corner, then Jaakko
Oksanen did so into the top left one.


Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) v FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)* 0-1 (0-1)
(Bruno Duarte 30'; Red Card: Seol (Crv) 41')

Red Star's Brazilian striker Bruno Duarte converted a through ball by
Mirko Ivani-c to give the Serbians an unsurprising lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501710/102375-Record_2025_07_22_22_14_56_565.mp4
Reddit had a field day with the VAR offside line they drew for this one.
I guess in a stadium like Europa Sports Park technology reaches its
limits. https://i.redd.it/vkhn3ykwfgef1.jpeg
More surprisingly though that goal turned out to be the only one because
soon afterwards Red Star's Korean right-back Seol Young-Woo made the
ill-fated decision to fight for a harmless ball in midfield while prone
on the ground, and instead he caught Tjay De Barr studs up on the ankle.
Down to ten the match was a much harder proposition for the Serbians
than they probably anticipated, and the Imps actually had a couple of
decent opportunities to get the equaliser.

In the return leg a lot of eyes will be on the debut of Red Star's most expensive signing ever, Marko Arnautovi-c. That transfer saga has
dominated this Austrian football summer to a ludicrous degree, and
especially in Rapid Wien fan circles the grapes appear to be
particularly sour right now.


FC Noah (ARM) v Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)* 1-2 (1-1)
(Gartenmann 36' (og); O'Dowda 44', Varga 49'; Red Card: Ciss|- (Fer) 82')

The Hungarian champions hit the crossbar early on through a header by
their French centre-back Ibrahim Ciss|-, but they fell behind when
Ciss|-'s defensive partner, Denmark-born Swiss international Stefan
Gartenmann, shoveled a cross by H|-lder Ferreira into his own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501711/102313-Record_2025_07_22_18_35_55_75.mp4
Nevertheless, newly arrived Irish international Callum O'Dowda, a
casualty of Cardiff's relegation to League One, headed in the important equaliser just before half-time, and right after the break Barnab|is
Varga did likewise from Jonathan Levi's free-kick. Late on Ciss|- was rightfully sent off after a VAR check for a punch to Gon|oalo Gregorio's
solar plexus.


FK RFS (LAT) v Malm|| FF (SWE)* 1-4 (1-2)
(Lemaji-c 40'; Rosengren 13', Jansson 35', Hak+iabanovi-c 58',
Johnsen 88' (pen))

Malm|| dominated from the start and took the early lead when Otto
Rosengren rifled in the rebound after RFS keeper Marko Mari-c had only
slapped away a shot by Sead Hak+iabanovi-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501712/102385-Record_2025_07_22_23_06_14_729.mp4
Pontus Jansson met a corner kick with a looping header into the top
corner to make it two before the Latvian champions pulled one back,
likewise with a looping header from a cross. After the break
Hak+iabanovi-c turned in Hugo Bolin's perfectly weighted centre, and late
on Lasse Berg Johnsen scored the fourth from the spot after Mari-c had
floored Malm||'s Brazilian left-back Busanello.


-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)* 0-3 (0-1)
(Vanat 13', Buyalskyi 76', Voloshyn 90'+2)

Like a bunch of schoolkids four Maltese defenders converged on Vitaliy Buyalskyi, which allowed him to slip the ball to Vladyslav Vanat, who
vice versa had been left all alone near the penalty spot, for an easy
goal. The overmatched Spartans were only able to fight a rearguard
action, didn't muster a shot on goal themselves, and conceded two more
when Buyalskyi's shot from distance was deflected past -aamrun keeper
Bonello, and Nazar Voloshyn slid in to tap in Mykola Shaparenko's low
cross at the far post.


Pafos FC (CYP) v Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)* 1-1 (0-0)
(Bassouamina 81'; Madmon 90'+10)

An even game in which the Israeli had more of the ball, and saw a
penalty for them chalked off by VAR, a rarer occurrence than the
opposite, but the Cypriot maiden champions scored a pretty brilliant
opening goal when Mislav Or+ii-c's blocked shot curved high into the area
and Congolese international Mons Bassouanima, newly arrived on Cyprus
from Clermont Foot in Ligue 2, met the ball with a bicycle kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501714/102333-Record_2025_07_22_20_39_14_45.mp4
Due to the lengthy VAR check and other stoppages ten minutes of injury
time were indicated, in the last of which Israeli Under-21 striker Elad
Madmon headed in Roy Revivo's cross at the far post.


FC K|+benhavn (DEN)* v FC Drita (KOS) 2-0 (0-0)
(Mattsson 69' (pen), 76' (pen))

FCK were unlucky in the first half when Mohamed Elyounoussi's shot from
a tight angle came off both posts: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501715/102323-Record_2025_07_22_19_54_15_109.mp4
But in the space of five minutes Drita's Congolese left-back Raddy
Ovouka gave away not one but two clumsy penalties to still give the
Danish champions a comfortable home win.


KF Shk|2ndija (MKD) v FC FCSB (ROM)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Alhassan 65'; Red Cards: Qaka (Shk) 70'; T-anase (FCSB) 79')

Not-Steaua's struggles against Andorran opposition in the previous
round continued in Northern Macedonia as Nigerian midfielder Adamu
Alhassan headed in Aleksand|2r Trum|oi's cross for the sole goal. Kamer
Qaka was then sent off for a late studs-up tackle, but the Romanians
couldn't enjoy their numerical superiority for long as Florin T-anase
likewise was super late with his challenge when he tried to break up a
counter attack with a kick to Liridon Latifi's upper thigh.


+aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* v H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) 4-0 (2-0)
(Barseghyan 40', Strelec 42', Toli-c 62', Kukharevych 90'+3)

In a rather one-sided affair Slovan's Armenian mainstay Tigran
Barseghyan opened the scoring by volleying in a feed by new Angolan
signing Sandro Cruz: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501718/102346-Record_2025_07_22_20_54_45_156.mp4
A gaffe by Zrinjski keeper Kara-ii-c then gifted David Strelec the second: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501718/102347-Record_2025_07_22_21_05_20_557.mp4
Croatian midfielder Marko Toli-c while stumbling pushed Barseghyan's
assist past Kara-ii-c for the third: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501718/102363-Record_2025_07_22_21_36_12_577.mp4
and late on yet another defensive mishap led to Ukrainian forward Mykola Kukharevych, also one of Slovan's summer signings (previously of Swansea
and Hibs), tapping in a cross by youngster Nino Marcelli: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501718/102371-Record_2025_07_22_22_07_58_224.mp4


KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)* v Brei|#ablik (ISL) 7-1 (5-1)
(Mili-c 4', Ishak 37' (pen), 45'+3 (pen), 85' (pen), Pereira 42',
Bengtsson 45'+6, Jagie+e+eo 77'; Gunnlaugsson 28' (pen);
Red Card: Margeirsson (Bre) 32')

One of those one-sided match-ups that are quite typical for CLQ2, but
things only really fell apart for the Icelandic champions after half an
hour when their defender Viktor |urn Margeirsson got sent off for a last-
man foul. Lech's Croatian centre-back Antonio Mili-c headed in a corner
kick for the early opener, and H||skuldur Gunnlaugsson equalised from the
spot after Mili-c had got entangled with Valgeir Valgeirsson. That wasn't
the only penalty in this match though by far, with Lech's Swedish
forward Mikael Ishak actually scoring a hat trick of them - one for a
foul on Mili-c, one for a handball, and one for an elbow thrown against
Lech's Portuguese right-back Joel Pereira. Apart from those goals the
Polish champions also scored through Pereira who rifled in a cut-back
cross, a one-two between youngster Antoni Kozubal and new Swedish
signing Leo Bengtsson, and a shot from distance by Filip Jagie+e+eo that Brei|#ablik keeper Anton Ari Einarsson let go through him.


HNK Rijeka (CRO) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* 0-0 (0-0)

Rijeka had more of the game, but Ludogorets's German keeper Hendrik
Bonmann made some good saves to keep it scoreless.



League Path


FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE)* v Servette FC (SUI) 0-1 (0-1)
(Mr|iz 13')

A Slovakian sank the Czechs - in his debut for Servette former Empoli
and Br|+ndby striker Samuel Mr|iz collected a feed by fellow new arrival
Giotto Morandi, shifted the ball onto his other foot, and curled a shot
past Viktoria keeper Jedli-ika: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501716/102319-Record_2025_07_22_19_14_18_366.mp4
The Czechs had a lot of great chances to get the equaliser, but
consistently failed to get their efforts on target, on one occasion
V|iclav Jemelka's header fell onto the crossbar, and late on a shot by 17-year-old substitute Ji+O|! Pano+i was cleared off the goal line.


Rangers FC (SCO)* v Panathinaikos FC (GRE) 2-0 (0-0)
(Curtis 52', Gassama 78'; Red Card: Vagiannidis (Pan) 58')

Panathinaikos were the better team in the first fifty minutes, but right
after Jack Butland had made a point-blank save against Filip -Euri-ii-c's volley 19-year-old Findlay Curtis scored his first professional goal for Rangers with a fine shot from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501721/102367-Record_2025_07_22_21_55_19_707.mp4
Things got worse for the Greeks when Georgios Vagiannidis collected a
second booking for pulling back Curtis, and against ten men Mauritania-
born winger Djeidi Gassama, newly signed from Sheffield Wednesday,
scored a goal quite similar to Curtis's: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501721/102378-Record_2025_07_22_22_21_41_605.mp4



July 23


Champions Path


Shelbourne FC (IRL) v Qaraba-f FK (AZE)* 0-3 (0-1)
(Andrade 13', Kashchuk 81', Axundzad+O 85')

An easy win for the perennial Azeri champions. Cape Verdean forward
Leandro Andrade tapped in a cross by Toral Bayramov for the early lead,
and a first-half volley by youngster N+Oriman Axundzad+O came off the
crossbar. After the break Shels hit the crossbar themselves through
Paddy Barrett's cross-turned-shot, but Ukrainian winger Oleksiy Kashchuk
made it two with an empty-netter after Axundzad+O on the break had
chipped over Shelbourne keeper Healy and seen his effort come off the
post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501723/102622-Record_2025_07_23_22_25_36_862.mp4
and Axundzad+O finally managed to score one himself thanks to Kameron Ledwidge's absolutely horrible back pass: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501723/102623-Record_2025_07_23_22_28_53_68.mp4



League Path


SK Brann (NOR) v RB Salzburg (AUT)* 1-4 (1-0)
(Magn||sson 20'; Nene 58', Onisiwo 61', Vertessen 87',
Kj|argaard 90'+2 (pen))

Salzburg's first half was lacklustre, and even though Brann had just
sold their main striker Aune Heggeb|+ to West Brom, the Icelandic
replacement they brought in from Lyngby S|avar Atli Magn||sson opened the scoring for them by taking advantage of a lapse by Jacob Rasmussen, who Salzburg had bought from Br|+ndby in order to bring defensive stability: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501722/102573-Record_2025_07_23_19_21_42_122.mp4
Salzburg were then also lucky Mamady Diambou wasn't sent off with a
second booking, and the Norwegians were livid about that after the
match. Still, the Club World Cup participants made two subs at half-
time, and the complexion of tie changed completely. Dorgeles Nene
volleyed in a great equaliser from a chipped feed by Oscar Gloukh
(rumoured to be on his way to Ajax or Roma): https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501722/102583-Record_2025_07_23_20_18_04_126.mp4
Karim Onisiwo soon afterwards headed in a pin-point cross by homecomer
Stefan Lainer for the lead, Yorbe Vertessen tapped into the empty net
after Brann keeper Dyngeland had spilled a shot by the very promising
new Japanese youngster S+ita Kitano, and an unlucky handball penalty in stoppage time in all likelihood decided the tie for good.

Salzburg last lost a Champions League qualifier nine years, or seventeen matches ago. I'm surprised, too.




Ciao,
Werner
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Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS (except RFS and FCSB) through to CLQ3 (and are
guaranteed at least Conference League group stage in the Champions Path,
and Europa League group stage in the League Path), losers go to ELQ3



July 29


Champions Path


FC KAIRAT (KAZ)* v KuPS (FIN) 3-0 (3-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Satpayev 9', Jorginho 29', Gromyko 43';
Red Card: Zaria (Kai, on the bench) 45'+1)

Things already got off to a bad start for the Finnish champions when
their Austrian number one keeper Johannes Kreidl fell ill with a Kazakh
stomach bug, and so they began with Aatu Hakala in goal and no reserve
keeper on the bench. Less than ten minutes in Hakala, who usually rarely
gets a game, let a shot by Chelsea-signed youngster Dastan Satpayev go
over his arm: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501724/103324-Record_2025_07_29_17_31_07_626.mp4
Kairat were absolutely dominant in the first half, and Kuopio's defence
were no help whatsoever for their beleaguered keeper as everybody was
too late to close down on Jorginho: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501724/103332-Record_2025_07_29_17_55_18_76.mp4
and Belarus international Valery Gromyko scored a fully deserved third
with a fierce shot into the near top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501724/103330-Record_2025_07_29_17_46_31_417.mp4

Just before the break Georgian bench player Giorgi Zaria saw red for an off-the-pitch altercation with Doni Arifi, and Kuopio somewhat recovered
from the onslaught in the second half. With extra time still just a goal
away they finally created a couple of opportunities for themselves, but
Kairat keeper Zarutskiy kept everything out.


FC DYNAMO KYIV (UKR)* v -aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) 3-0 (2-0), 6-0 on aggregate (Vanat 28', Brazhko 35', Mykhavko 82')

A terrible back pass by -aamrun's Italian former Serie C right-back
Vincenzo Polito gifted Vladyslav Vanat the opener, and Volodymyr Brazhko
tapped the second into the empty net from a centimetre out. Late on
20-year-old centre-back Taras Mykhavko drilled in a loose ball from a
tight angle for number three.

The difference between Shakhtar's plethora of Brazilians and Dynamo's all-Ukrainian squad is striking, and it's going to be curious to see
which system will yield the better results this year. Last season -
Shakhtar were better in Europe, but were edged out by Dynamo
domestically.


FC Drita (KOS) v FC K|yBENHAVN (DEN)* 0-1 (0-1), 0-3 on aggregate
(Cornelius 42'; Red Card: Balaj (Dri) 27')

All hopes of a Kosovar comeback were dashed quickly when Drita winger
Liridon Balaj was sent off for a studs-up tackle against Thomas Delaney,
and Andreas Cornelius, who had already seen a goal chalked off for a
very close offside early on, despite a somewhat heavy first touch slid
in to steer Mohamed Elyounoussi's ball over the top into the net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501726/103349-Record_2025_07_29_20_43_01_766.mp4

This is setting up a Battle of the Bridge with Malm|| in the next round.
Those two have played each other in Europe once before, in the 2019-20
Europa League where Malm|| won away in Copenhagen and drew at home.


FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)* v Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) 5-1 (4-0), 6-1 on aggregate
(Katai 8', Ivani-c 16', Bruno Duarte 37', Milson 44', Ndiaye 75;
De Barr 53')

Unlike in the first leg the Serbian champions had no problems opening
the score early as Aleksandar Katai headed in a corner kick, and Katai
then also provided the assist that Mirko Ivani-c swept in for Red Star's second: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501727/103388-Record_2025_07_29_22_59_07_923.mp4
before a shot by Brazilian forward Bruno Duarte was deflected past a
helpless Nauzet Santana for number three. Up to that point the Imps'
Spanish keeper had been the only one to really resist the Serbian
onslaught, but Red Star's fourth was on him as he passed the ball
straight to Fel|!cio Milson, leaving the Angolan international with a
simple finish. The Gibraltarians showed a bit more bite after the break,
and Tjay De Barr with their first proper shot on goal surprised Red
Star's new Brazilian keeper Matheus, who had joined the Serbians after
eleven years in Braga and half a season with Ajax. They could even have
scored a second, but Matheus made amends by keeping out Nano's poorly
struck penalty. Late on Senegalese striker Cherif Ndiaye stuck out a leg
to stab home an Ivani-c cross.
Arnautovi-c made his Red Star debut fifteen minutes from time and
immediately missed from five metres. Never change, Marko.


H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) v +aK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SLK)* 2-2 (0-0), 2-6
on aggregate
(Bilbija 72' (pen), Pranji-c 76'; Strelec 80', 87')

Both sides combined for only one shot on target in the first half, but
things suddenly got quite a bit more interesting when Zrinjski managed
to score twice in short succession - captain Nemanja Bilbija got one
from the spot after Marko Toli-c had brought down Igor Savi-c on occasion
of a corner kick, and when everyone waited for Jakov Pranji-c to deliver
a cross the Croatian instead circled around and beat Slovan keeper Tak|i-i
with an angled shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501728/103437-Record_2025_07_30_10_30_32_36.mp4
But Herzegovinian hopes were only very short-lived - Zrinjski lost the
ball pushing forward, and a quick break later and despite some desperate last-gasp tackles David Strelec slotted in from short range: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501728/103438-Record_2025_07_30_10_33_07_335.mp4
A misunderstanding between Zrinjski's centre-backs Ilija Ma+ii-c and Toni +aunji-c then even threw away the full coefficient points: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501728/103439-Record_2025_07_30_10_33_45_158.mp4



July 30


QARABA-R FK (AZE)* v Shelbourne FC (IRL) 1-0 (1-0), 4-0 on aggregate
(Martin 44' (og))

John Martin didn't heed the old adage about forwards inside their own
area and headed a cross into his own net. Halfway through the second
half Minnesota United loanee Wessel Speel in his first match for Shels
parried Kady's penalty to keep the result respectable.


MALM|u FF (SWE)* v FK RFS (LAT) 1-0 (1-0), 5-1 on aggregate
(Hak+iabanovi-c 25'; Red Card: J. Ikaunieks (RFS) 63')

Following some excellent passing Sead Hak+iabanovi-c got off a shot that
was parried by RFS's Austro-Croatian keeper Marko Mari-c, but the rebound
came back to the Montenegrin winger and he fired in at the second attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501730/103493-Record_2025_07_30_19_25_48_542.mp4
Just after Malm|| keeper Robin Olsen had turned a shot by Senegalese
winger Mor Talla against the crossbar Latvian mainstay J-Unis Ikaunieks, recently reunited with his elder brother D-Uvis after eleven years with different clubs, got himself sent off for a flying elbow.


PFC LUDOGORETS 1945 (BUL)* v HNK Rijeka (CRO) 3-1 aet (1-0, 1-1), 3-1 on aggregate
(Piotrowski 19' (pen), Chochev 107', Ivanov 117'; Gojak 71';
Red Cards: Rukavina (Rij) 77', Fruk (Rij) 90'+9)

Jakub Piotrowski converted an early handball penalty, but Rijeka
equalised when the substitute Amer Gojak with more than a little luck
volleyed a cross by newly signed Lithuanian left-back Justas Lasickas
past Ludogorets's German keeper Hendrik Bonmann. Just six minutes later
though the Croatian champions were a man down when Gabriel Rukavina
was sent off for a studs-up tackle against Frenchman Mounir Chouiar,
and deep in stoppage time the same happened to Toni Fruk after a VAR
check. Now this is a case where I strongly feel no Away Goal Rule to be
clearly fairer, since with AGR Fruk's dismissal wouldn't have been any
real punishment as Rijeka would have progressed just seconds later on
away goals anyway. As it was though the Croatians had to play an extra
thirty minutes two players down, and they fell when Swedish centre-back
Edvin Kurtulus sent a speculative shot into a packed box, and veteran substitute Ivaylo Chochev back-heeled the ball in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501731/103552-Record_2025_07_30_23_09_49_153.mp4
Stanislav Ivanov added a late insurance goal with a turn-and-shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501731/103553-Record_2025_07_30_23_10_37_675.mp4
It's actually quite rare to see two Bulgarians score for the perennial Bulgarian champions.

This has been the first time in 20 years that the Croatian champions
have been eliminated from Champions League qualifiers this early.


FC FCSB (ROM)* v KF SHK|iNDIJA (MKD) 1-2 (1-1), 1-3 on aggregate
(Cisotti 28'; Latifi 33', Krstevski 87')

In the biggest surprise of this Qualifying Round it first appeared as if not-Steaua would easily repair the first-leg damage when FCSB's Italian midfielder Juri Cisotti (a late bloomer, five seasons ago he was still
playing on Malta, and four seasons ago in the Romanian third division)
finished off a quick counter-attack with an angled shot past Shk|2ndija's German-Gambian keeper Baboucarr Gaye. But just five minutes later
Albanian veteran Liridan Latifi stabbed a loose ball into the net after
a corner kick had led to a goalmouth scramble, and with time ticking
away an ever more nervous Romanian side finally got caught on the break,
with young winger Vane Krstevski bending a delicious lob over FCSB
keeper T|ornovanu. That's now three European losses in a row for the
Romanian champions, against Inter Escaldes and Shk|2ndija. Drita up next.

Shk|2ndija become only the second ever North Macedonian team to qualify
for a European group/league stage. Vardar did it when they beat Malm||
and Fenerbah|oe to qualify for the 2017-18 Europa League.


Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)* v PAFOS FC (CYP) 0-1 (0-1), 1-2 on aggregate
(Jaj|i 40'; Red Card: Melika (Mac) 30')

After just ten minutes Maccabi Tel Aviv keeper Yoav Gerafi had to
leave the pitch with a muscle injury, and his 20-year-old replacement
Ofek Melika was sent off twenty minutes later for a last-man tackle into
the legs of Brazilian striker Anderson: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501733/103501-Record_2025_07_30_20_32_08_496.mp4
A good thing for Maccabi that nobody had caught the stomach flu and so
they had a third keeper on the bench, but Roi Mishpati had to concede
what turned out to be the decisive goal ten minutes into his tenure when
Jaj|i, another of Pafos's Brazilians, curled a great shot into the top
corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501733/103503-Record_2025_07_30_20_39_23_90.mp4
Even down to ten the Israeli champions had their opportunities to get
the equaliser, and they will likely rue the fact the most that early in
the match VAR had found a toenail offside to rule out a goal by Dor
Peretz.


FERENCV|UROSI TC (HUN)* v FC Noah (ARM) 4-3 (2-2), 6-4 on aggregate
(Pe+ii-c 1', Joseph 12', Zachariassen 52' (pen), Varga 74'; Ferreira 7', Matheus Ai|is 22', Grgi-c 71')

A wild game, and full credit to the Armenians who managed to come back
three times from a goal down. Already in the first minute a shot by
Serbian striker Aleksandar Pe+ii-c bounced past Noah keeper -ian-iarevi-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501734/103523-Record_2025_07_30_22_04_18_567.mp4
but the Armenians equalised thanks to a great through ball by Sergey
Muradyan that Portuguese winger H|-lder Ferreira slotted in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501734/103525-Record_2025_07_30_22_05_16_577.mp4
Frenchman Lenny Joseph, signed by the Hungarians from Ligue 2, rose to
head in Fradi's second, but another fast break ended with Noah's
Brazilian striker Matheus Ai|is firing a cut-back cross through the legs
of Ferencv|iros keeper Dibusz: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501734/103528-Record_2025_07_30_22_09_04_643.mp4
After the break the Hungarians made it three from the spot after
-ian-iarevi-c had brought down Joseph in the box, and one last time the Armenians got within one goal of sending the match to extra time when
Croatian winger Alen Grgi-c headed in a pin-point cross by Noah's
Icelandic left-back Gu|#mundur |R||rarinsson. But they had no more answer
to Barnab|is Varga side-stepping a defender and firing a precise shot
past -ian-iarevi-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501734/103532-Record_2025_07_30_22_13_58_461.mp4


Brei|#ablik (ISL) v KKS LECH POZNA+a (POL)* 0-1 (0-1), 1-8 on aggregate
(Ishak 29')

Brei|#ablik hit the crossbar early on, but in the end there were to be no coefficient points for Iceland as Mikael Ishak punished a bungled
clearance for the only goal: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501736/103509-Record_2025_07_30_20_59_56_537.mp4



League Path


Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v RANGERS FC (SCO)* 1-1 (0-0), 1-3 on aggregate (-Euri-ii-c 54'; Gassama 60')

As in the first leg Panathinaikos were the better team throughout, but
without making their superiority count. They finally took the lead after
the break when Filip -Euri-ii-c beat the Scottish offside trap to nudge a weighted cross by Tasos Bakasetas past Jack Butland: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501735/103548-Record_2025_07_30_23_04_59_827.mp4
but right after Ioannidis had missed a great chance to get the aggregate equaliser Rangers scored at the other end when Djeidi Gassama volleyed
in after a goalmouth scramble: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501735/103549-Record_2025_07_30_23_05_37_831.mp4


RB SALZBURG (AUT)* v SK Brann (NOR) 1-1 (1-1), 5-2 on aggregate
(Kj|argaard 6'; Kornvig 3')

A weird game. When Danish midfielder Emil Kornvig was allowed to run
for miles with the ball at his feet before beating Salzburg keeper
Alexander Schlager with a shot that looked anything but unstoppable: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501737/103507-Record_2025_07_30_20_50_15_327.mp4
some of us including myself might have started to get a tiny little bit nervous, but just three minutes later Brann keeper Dyngeland obliged by
diving out of the way of Maurits Kj|argaard's free-kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501737/103508-Record_2025_07_30_20_53_46_890.mp4
A match that had started in such an entertaining fashion then got
progressively worse, and the second half was just very chippy, with lots
of yellow cards but nothing resembling good football. Still, Salzburg
at least extended their 18-match unbeaten streak in Champions League qualifiers.


Servette FC (SUI) v FC VIKTORIA PLZE+c (CZE)* 1-3 (1-2), 2-3 on aggregate (Antunes 4'; Sp|i-iil 29', Vydra 31', Durosinmi 87' (pen);
Red Cards: Zeljkovi-c (Vik) 66', Severin (Ser) 69')

Alexis Antunes volleyed in from a corner kick routine to give the Swiss
an early two-goal aggregate lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501738/103510-Record_2025_07_30_21_05_21_542.mp4
but Viktorka scored twice in short succession to get level again -
Karel Sp|i-iil was left all alone to side-foot in a ball over the top by Liberian international Sampson Dweh: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501738/103516-Record_2025_07_30_21_30_51_311.mp4
and Mat-cj Vydra punished a mistake by Servette's Swiss-Cypriot keeper
Jo|2l Mall: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501738/103517-Record_2025_07_30_21_33_18_588.mp4
A senseless two-footed sliding tackle by Adrian Zeljkovi-c resulted in Viktoria's new Slovenian midfielder being sent off with a straight red,
but Servette were able to enjoy numerical superiority for just three
minutes as their French centre-back Yoan Severin saw a deserved second
yellow for a high boot. The decisive moment of the tie came seven
minutes from time when young left-back Th|-o Magnin wrestled down the Iraqi-German substitute Merchas Doski, formerly of the Austrian 2nd
division, a bit too forcefully in the box, and despite Mall getting a
hand to the shot young Nigerian forward Rafiu Durosinmi converted from
the spot.



Draw for Champions League 3nd Qualifying Round (August 5/6 and 12)
* = seeded team
Winners go to CLPO, Losers in the Champions Path go to ELPO, Losers in
the League Path go to EL League Stage.


Champions Path

Malm|| FF (SWE) v FC K|+benhavn (DEN)*
FC Kairat (KAZ) v +aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)*
KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL) v FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)*

PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) v Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)*
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Pafos FC (CYP)*
KF Shk|2ndija (MKD) v Qaraba-f FK (AZE)*


League Path

RB Salzburg (AUT) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)*
Rangers FC (SCO)* v FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE)
OGC Nice (FRA) v SL Benfica (POR)*
Feyenoord (NED)* v Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR)



Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:

Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Draw for Champions League Playoff (August 19/20 and 26/27)
* = seeded team
Winners go to CL League Stage, Losers go to EL League Stage


Champions Path

PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)/Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)* v KF Shk|2ndija (MKD)/Qaraba-f FK (AZE)
KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)/FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)* v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)/Pafos
FC (CYP)*
FK Bod|+/Glimt (NOR)* v SK Sturm Graz (AUT)
Celtic FC (SCO)* v FC Kairat (KAZ)/+aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI) v Malm|| FF (SWE)/FC K|+benhavn (DEN)*


League Path

Feyenoord (NED)/Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR) v OGC Nice (FRA)/SL Benfica (POR)*
Rangers FC (SCO)/FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE) v RB Salzburg (AUT)/Club Brugge KV (BEL)*


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Champions League 3nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg
* = seeded team



August 5


Champions Path


Malm|| FF (SWE) v FC K|+benhavn (DEN)* 0-0 (0-0)

The much anticipated Clash of the Bridge was a bit of a dud. FCK had
more of the game, but at the end both sides had mustered exactly one
shot on target.


FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Pafos FC (CYP)* 0-1 (0-0)
(Anderson 84')

In Lublin in eastern Poland the best chance of the first half fell to
the Ukrainian champions after a mishit back pass by Vlad Dragomir had
led to Dynamo left-back Vladyslav Dubinchak breaking through alone on
goal, but with only Pafos keeper Michail to beat he fired against the
outside of the post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502997/104361-Record_2025_08_05_20_36_33_451.mp4
No doubt in order to clamp down on such egregious defensive mistakes the Cypriots have just gone and signed David Luiz. Pafos were also lucky
that after a video check the Swiss referee took back a penalty decision,
and six minutes from time they even got the winner when Cape Verdean
winger Jo|uo Correia played in Anderson, and the Brazilian turned
Dubinchak inside out before curling past Ruslan Neshcheret in the
Ukrainian net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502997/104374-Record_2025_08_05_21_45_02_500.mp4


KF Shk|2ndija (MKD) v Qaraba-f FK (AZE)* 0-1 (0-1)
(Bayramov 18' (pen))

Shk|2ndija kept this match wide open for the most part, but gave away a
pretty idiotic penalty when their Jamaican left-back Ronaldo Webster won
a ball fair and square in his own area, and then with a bad touch
practically invited Qaraba-f midfielder Leandro Andrade to steal in in
front of him and take a stumble right on the line of the box. That's the
kind of mistake you can't afford at this level.



League Path


Rangers FC (SCO)* v FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE) 3-0 (1-0)
(Gassama 15', 51', Dessers 45' (pen))

The stats were quite even for this one, but Rangers were much more
dangerous and clinical in front of the net than the Czechs. Early in the
match Djeidi Gassama, who's already proving himself to have been a very
astute signing, exchanged passes with Cyril Dessers before slotting past Viktoria's Austrian reserve keeper Florian Wiegele: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502999/104366-Record_2025_08_05_21_00_23_118.mp4
Wiegele was then bailed out by his teammate V|iclav Jemelka who blocked
Oliver Antman's shot on the goal line, but less than a day after having completed his move to Glasgow from Deventer the new Finnish signing went
down in the Czech box under pressure from Viktoria captain Mat-cj Vydra,
and referee Turpin awarded the rather soft penalty. After the break a
looping shot by Mohamed Diomande fell onto the Viktoria crossbar, and
just two minutes later Rangers were three up as a fast break ended with
Gassama heading in Antman's cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502999/104376-Record_2025_08_05_21_54_10_597.mp4



August 6


Champions Path


FC Kairat (KAZ) v +aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Satpayev 90' (pen); Red Cards: Ibrahim (Slo) 65',
Weiss (Slo, manager) 90'+2)

Kairat started into the game very brightly and had a row of early opportunities, but the Slovakians appeared to be able to keep everything
under control - that is until Slovan's Ghanaian midfielder Rahim Ibrahim
saw a rather harsh second booking, and in the last minute a blatant
shirt pull by Danylo Ihnatenko on Yegor Sorokin led to a penalty, calmly converted by who else but 16-year-old future Chelsea starlet Dastan
Satpayev. Quite some responsibility on very young shoulders. During a
very long stoppage time Slovan manager Vladim|!r Weiss talked himself
into two yellows in short succession, and Ricardinho volleyed in an
excellent cross by Satpayev, only for the goal to be disallowed by VAR
for a toenail offside.


PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) v Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)* 0-0 (0-0)

In a game of very few chances Ferencv|iros saw a first-half goal
correctly disallowed by VAR for offside, and out of nowhere Ludogorets's Brazilian winger Erick Marcus almost scored the goal of the matchday,
but his lob from 40 metres came off the crossbar, hit the glove of
Fradi keeper Dibusz, and went out: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503002/104475-Record_2025_08_06_20_12_45_327.mp4


KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL) v FK Crvena zvezda (SRB)* 1-3 (1-1)
(Ishak 34'; Kruni-c 9', 51', Bruno Duarte 73')

Red Star took an early lead when Senegalese striker Cherif Ndiaye laid
the ball off for Rade Kruni-c, and despite Lech keeper Bartosz Mrozek
getting a hand to the Bosnian's shot he wasn't able to keep it out: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503003/104485-Record_2025_08_06_20_39_54_502.mp4
Mikael Ishak expertly volleyed in a cross by Lech's new Portuguese left-
back Jo|uo Moutinho (not that Jo|uo Moutinho) at the far post for the equaliser: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503003/104490-Record_2025_08_06_21_05_18_253.mp4
After the break VAR was called into action, and following a long check
the video ref determined that Kruni-c's short-range effort that had been blocked twice on the goal line by Mateusz Skrzypczak had indeed fully
crossed the line: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503003/104500-Record_2025_08_06_21_43_34_804.mp4
A bit of a shame because that had been a great clearance by Skrzypczak.
The goal that probably decided the tie for good came after the Lech
defence had lost the ball to Red Star's pressing, and their Montenegrin
captain Mirko Ivani-c played in Brazilian Bruno Duarte who had no
problems firing past Mrozek: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503003/104506-Record_2025_08_06_22_03_43_295.mp4



League Path


RB Salzburg (AUT) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)* 0-1 (0-0)
(Vermant 75')

It figures that I would be in attendance for the match that ended
Salzburg's nine-year unbeaten run in CL qualifiers. And quite the
unnecessary loss it was, too, but what for the longest time looked like
a classic nil-nil was decided when Bjorn Meijer was allowed too much
time and space on the left side to float in a cross, and Jacob
Rasmussen, who in my eyes is quickly starting to rival Dan Eggen in The
Staff as least favourite former Br|+ndby defensive liability, was too
slow to close in on Romeo Vermant (son of Brugge legend and former
Schalke midfielder Sven Vermant) who volleyed in. Late on Simon Mignolet
pulled off two good saves in succession to deny Petar Ratkov and Edmund
Baidoo.

Salzburg are still searching for a new identity now that relentless
pressing doesn't really work anymore, and the lack of quality in attack
is obvious. It's not even that they're missing the next Erling Haaland
or Karim Adeyemi, at the moment they can't even find the next M|2rgim
Berisha or Junior Adamu.


OGC Nice (FRA) v SL Benfica (POR)* 0-2 (0-0)
(Ivanovi-c 53', Florentino 88')

Benfica were the more dangerous team throughout, and they took the
deserved lead through Austria-born Croatian striker Franjo Ivanovi-c (the Austrian FA had made some overtures, to little avail, before he made his
debut with the Croatian NT earlier this year), newly signed from Union Saint-Gilloise, who volleyed home a cross by Fredrik Aursnes. Late on
the substitute Florentino beat Nice's new keeper Yehvann Diouf, who had
been impeccable up to that point, with a shot from distance that didn't
exactly look unstoppable: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503004/104513-Record_2025_08_06_22_49_59_12.mp4


Feyenoord (NED)* v Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR) 2-1 (1-0)
(Timber 19', Hadj Moussa 90'+1; Amrabat 86')

Feyenoord had already seen two penalty shouts denied before a
speculative shot by Quinten Timber, twin brother of Arsenal defender
Jurri|2n, got deflected past a helpless -#rfan Can E-fribayat in the
Turkish net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503005/104495-Record_2025_08_06_21_21_10_603.mp4
Good saves by Feyenoord keeper Timon Wellenreuther and on one occasion a
close offside call then prevented Fenerbah|oe from getting the equaliser,
but a couple of minutes from time they still scored thanks to former
Feyenoord player Sofyan Amrabat, who unleashed a ferocious volley that thundered in off the crossbar: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503005/104515-Record_2025_08_06_22_48_25_605.mp4
In stoppage time the Dutch scored a slightly surprising winner when
their new Aussie left-back Jordan Bos sent in a cross that Algeria international Anis Hadj Moussa headed into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503005/104514-Record_2025_08_06_22_53_38_979.mp4


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 2025-08-07 15:50, Werner Pichler wrote:

Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League 3nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg
* = seeded team

League Path

Rangers FC (SCO)* v FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE) 3-0 (1-0)
(Gassama 15', 51', Dessers 45' (pen))

The stats were quite even for this one, but Rangers were much more
dangerous and clinical in front of the net than the Czechs. Early in the match Djeidi Gassama, who's already proving himself to have been a very astute signing, exchanged passes with Cyril Dessers before slotting past Viktoria's Austrian reserve keeper Florian Wiegele: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502999/104366- Record_2025_08_05_21_00_23_118.mp4
Wiegele was then bailed out by his teammate V|iclav Jemelka who blocked Oliver Antman's shot on the goal line, but less than a day after having completed his move to Glasgow from Deventer the new Finnish signing went
down in the Czech box under pressure from Viktoria captain Mat-cj Vydra,
and referee Turpin awarded the rather soft penalty.

are people saying this was highway robbery ?


After the break a

looping shot by Mohamed Diomande fell onto the Viktoria crossbar, and
just two minutes later Rangers were three up as a fast break ended with Gassama heading in Antman's cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502999/104376- Record_2025_08_05_21_54_10_597.mp4

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 08/08/2025 04:31, MH wrote:

On 2025-08-07 15:50, Werner Pichler wrote:

Qualifying scheme:
https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Champions League 3nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg
* = seeded team

League Path


Rangers FC (SCO)* v FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE) 3-0 (1-0)
(Gassama 15', 51', Dessers 45' (pen))

The stats were quite even for this one, but Rangers were much more
dangerous and clinical in front of the net than the Czechs. Early in the
match Djeidi Gassama, who's already proving himself to have been a very
astute signing, exchanged passes with Cyril Dessers before slotting past
Viktoria's Austrian reserve keeper Florian Wiegele:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502999/104366-
Record_2025_08_05_21_00_23_118.mp4
Wiegele was then bailed out by his teammate V|iclav Jemelka who blocked
Oliver Antman's shot on the goal line, but less than a day after having
completed his move to Glasgow from Deventer the new Finnish signing went
down in the Czech box under pressure from Viktoria captain Mat-cj Vydra,
and referee Turpin awarded the rather soft penalty.

are people saying this was highway robbery ?

The kids these days are more Marvelling over the fact that Antman joined
the Rangers.


Ciao,
Werner

-aAfter the break a

looping shot by Mohamed Diomande fell onto the Viktoria crossbar, and
just two minutes later Rangers were three up as a fast break ended with
Gassama heading in Antman's cross:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502999/104376-
Record_2025_08_05_21_54_10_597.mp4

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Champions League 3nd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS through to CLPO, Losers in the Champions Path go to
ELPO, Losers in the League Path go to EL League Stage.



August 12


Champions Path


QARABA-R FK (AZE)* v KF Shk|2ndija (MKD) 5-1 (4-1), 6-1 on aggregate
(Cake 16' (og), Kady 18', Axundzad+O 33', Jankovi-c 35' (pen),
Andrade 59'; Tamba 10')

Shk|2ndija surprisingly needed just ten minutes to make up the first-leg deficit as their Senegalese winger Fabrice Tamba chested down Besart
Ibraimi's diagonal ball into the box before slotting past Qaraba-f's
Polish keeper Mateusz Kochalski: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503006/105577-Record_2025_08_12_18_09_32_980.mp4
But this clearly only served to anger the Azeri, who hit back almost immediately. They got the equaliser thanks to a rare double own goal -
Leandro Andrade's cross was deflected by Arbin Zanullaj onto the head of
his Albanian teammate Klisman Cake: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503006/105582-Record_2025_08_12_18_15_46_101.mp4
and two minutes later they took the lead when a volley by their
Brazilian mainstay Kady went straight through Shk|2ndija's German-Gambian keeper Baboucarr Gaye: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503006/105584-Record_2025_08_12_18_18_10_309.mp4
Gaye then denied Abdellah Zoubir with a point-blank save, but he was
still beaten when young Azeri winger N+Oriman Axundzad+O expertly volleyed
in a Zoubir cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503006/105595-Record_2025_08_12_18_32_55_435.mp4
Kamer Qaka's ill-timed tackle in the box then gave away a penalty,
converted by Montenegro international Marko Jankovi-c. With the tie
decided, Qaraba-f added one more after the break through Andrade who
volleyed in Elvin C+Of+Orquliyev's cross at the second attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503006/105621-Record_2025_08_12_19_14_54_964.mp4


FC K|yBENHAVN (DEN)* v Malm|| FF (SWE) 5-0 (2-0), 5-0 on aggregate
(Huescas 31', Robert 43', 69', Elyounoussi 51', Mattsson 67')

A surprising demolition. Mexican youngster Rodrigo Huescas headed FCK
in front from Andreas Cornelius's weighted ball into the box: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503007/105628-Nagrywaj_2025_08_12_19_31_44_355.mp4
and former Cruzeiro forward Robert Silva surrounded by Malm|| defenders
was still able to get off a shot that beat Robin Olsen at the near post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503007/105635-Nagrywaj_2025_08_12_19_44_12_957.mp4
Malm|| had a penalty shout just before the break when FCK's new Croatian
keeper Dominik Kotarski clashed into Jens Stryger Larsen in the box, but
after a VAR check Spanish referee S|inchez determined the collision to
have been accidental, perhaps because neither player got even close to
the ball. I have my doubts about that decision: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503007/105649-Nagrywaj_2025_08_12_19_47_46_616.mp4
but be that as it may it probably wouldn't have changed much as
Copenhagen continued to dominate in the second half as well - Mohamed Elyounoussi capped off a one-two with Henke's son Jordan Larsson with a
shot into the bottom corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503007/105655-Nagrywaj_2025_08_12_20_13_11_890.mp4
following a nice dribble by Elyounoussi Magnus Mattsson's shot from a
tight angle was deflected past Olsen: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503007/105660-Nagrywaj_2025_08_12_20_28_41_532.mp4
and Robert got his brace after three Copenhagen players were allowed to
freely pass the ball around in the box: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503007/105661-Nagrywaj_2025_08_12_20_31_14_226.mp4


PAFOS FC (CYP)* v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 2-0 (1-0), 3-0 on aggregate
(Or+ii-c 2', Correia 55')

The Cypriot champions (with two Cypriots on the pitch) quickly doubled
their aggregate lead through Mislav Or+ii-c who tapped into the empty net
after a comedy of errors that had been initiated by Dynamo keeper
Neshcheret misjudging a long ball: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503008/105705-Record_2025_08_12_22_07_26_100.mp4
Pafos had everything under control, and in only their second ever
European campaign (after having reached the Conference League Round
of 16 last season) made sure of at least Europa League football when
Cape Verdean right-back Jo|uo Correia volleyed in an Or+ii-c cross at the
far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503008/105706-Record_2025_08_12_22_08_30_988.mp4

This is going to be the first time since 2005-06 that no Ukrainian team
will feature in the Champions League proper. Safe to say that there are external reasons for that, and their fall to currently 27th place in the
UEFA ranking. Five years ago they were in 9th.


+aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* v FC KAIRAT (KAZ) 1-0 (1-0), 1-1 on
aggregate, Kairat win 4-3 on penalties
(Mak 30'; Red Card: Weiss (Slo, after the game))

Kairat hit the crossbar already early on, but it was the Slovakian
champions who levelled the aggregate score through veteran winger R||bert
Mak who swept in Marko Toli-c's feed on the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503012/105703-Record_2025_08_12_22_02_49_302.mp4
But when Mak found himself similarly alone in the second half he only
hit the upright while at the other end Slovan keeper Tak|i-i late on saved twice against Dastan Satpayev and Valery Gromyko, and so the tie went to
extra time where Tak|i-i also parried against the Serbian substitute Jug Stanojev. In the shoot-out Tak|i-i saved Gromyko's weak penalty, but
Kairat keeper Zarutskiy did likewise against Alen Mustafi-c, and Tigran Barseghyan then decisively sent his spot kick wide. A post-match scuffle
ended with Vladim|!r Weiss getting his marching orders, following the
family tradition since his manager dad had already been sent to the
stands in the first leg.


FERENCV|UROSI TC (HUN)* v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) 3-0 (1-0), 3-0 on aggregate
(Varga 38', 79', Szalai 86')

Ferencv|iros were bailed out by VAR early on as Ivaylo Chochev was
offside by literally a hair's breadth when he headed in Son's free-kick,
but they took the lead through a header by Barnab|is Varga: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503013/105677-Record_2025_08_12_20_54_36_708.mp4
The Hungarians were the clearly better side after the break - Bence
|utv||s hit the crossbar, and Varga got his brace by tapping in Zsombor Gruber's centre: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503013/105701-Record_2025_08_12_21_55_06_811.mp4
Whenever Varga scores for the Hungarian champions I'm always reminded of
the fact that he started out in the Austrian fifth tier, and was still
in the second division at the age of 26, before he went back home to
Hungary and started banging in goals for every club he played for there.
Late on G|ibor Szalai headed in a corner kick by youngster Alex T||th for
the third.


FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)* v KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL) 1-1 (1-0), 4-2 on aggregate (Ndiaye 45'+1 (pen); Ishak 90'+3; Red Card: Rodrig|uo (Crv) 56')

Both sides had their chances to score in the first half, but it was
the Serbians who took the lead from the spot after Peter Olayinka had
been felled by Mateusz Skrzypczak. Things got a little bit more
complicated for Red Star when early in the second half their new
Brazilian centre-back Rodrig|uo got sent off for DOGSO after blatantly
tripping Leo Bengtsson with a waist-high trailing leg, but all that Lech managed against ten men was a stoppage time equaliser thanks to Mikael
Ishak's deflected shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503014/105716-Record_2025_08_12_22_55_07_626.mp4

Unsurprisingly the first murmurs have already sprung up in Belgrade
surrounding Marko Arnautovi-c, who sat out this game with a minor injury.
Red Star still won easily without him, but there's a lot at stake in
these qualifiers and you'd understandably want your record signing to
feature and deliver.



League Path


FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE) v RANGERS FC (SCO)* 2-1 (1-0), 2-4 on aggregate (Durosinmi 41', Markovi-c 83'; Cameron 61')

Viktoria tried valiantly to get back into the tie following their heavy first-leg defeat, and after having already wasted a couple of good
chances they did take the lead thanks to a well-worked goal - Karel
Sp|i-iil's long diagonal ball found Amar Memi-c on the right wing, and the Bosnian international with a deft touch broke through and provided a
cut-back cross for young Nigerian forward Rafiu Durosinmi to rifle in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503009/105662-Record_2025_08_12_20_38_13_204.mp4
But any hopes of a comeback were dashed when a long ball by John Souttar
was misplayed by Sp|i-iil, and Danilo met Mohamed Diomande's low cross
with a shot that was ultimatively deflected in by youngster Lyall
Cameron: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503009/105664-Record_2025_08_12_20_39_17_217.mp4
Jack Butland nevertheless still had plenty to do after that in the
Rangers net, and the Czechs at least got the win and the coefficient
points when the Serbian substitute Svetozar Markovi-c headed in an
inviting cross by Czech Under-21 forward Christophe Kabongo: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503009/105666-Record_2025_08_12_20_43_13_12.mp4


FENERBAH|cE SK (TUR) v Feyenoord (NED)* 5-2 (2-1), 6-4 on aggregate
(Brown 44', Dur|in 45'+2, Fred 55', En-Nesyri 83', Talisca 90'+6;
Watanabe 41', 89')

This match was played at a frantic pace from the start, with goal
opportunities coming thick and fast at both ends. Youssef En-Nesyri had
already scored on offside goal for Fenerbah|oe before Feyenoord's new
Japanese centre-back Tsuyoshi Watanabe headed the Dutch in front from
Hwang In-beom's free-kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503010/105630-Record_2025_08_12_19_41_12_853.mp4
But two quick goals turned the match around for Mourinho's side already
before the break - young Englishman Archie Brown, whose unconventional
career path has taken him from Derby to Istanbul via Lausanne and Gent,
nodded in Sebastian Szyma+aski's corner kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503010/105639-Record_2025_08_12_19_44_24_495.mp4
and former Aston Villa striker Jhon Dur|in volleyed past Feyenoord keeper Wellenreuther after having been teed up by En-Nesyri: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503010/105647-Record_2025_08_12_19_47_23_830.mp4
Half-time substitute Goncalo Borges, newly signed from Porto, could have equalised for Feyenoord but saw his point blank effort saved by Fener
keeper -#rfan Can E-fribayat, and at the other end Fred made it three with
a brilliantly curled shot into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503010/105656-Record_2025_08_12_20_15_37_806.mp4
If he had done that more often he might still be with Man United. Late
on En-Nesyri tapped in a low cross by Brown on the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503010/105668-Record_2025_08_12_20_43_06_516.mp4
but a great volley by Watanabe still pulled Feyenoord within one: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503010/105673-Record_2025_08_12_20_48_31_184.mp4
With Feyenoord chasing a goal in order to send the tie to extra time, in
the dying seconds they lost the ball in defence and Anderson Talisca
slotted past Wellenreuther to score his first goal in Europe since 2017,
having spent the majority of the time since in China and Saudi-Arabia: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503010/105678-Record_2025_08_12_20_55_36_701.mp4


CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL)* v RB Salzburg (AUT) 3-2 (0-2), 1-2 on aggregate
(Seys 61', Forbs 83', Vanaken 90'+4; Rasmussen 18', Baidoo 43')

For a moment I thought Jacob Rasmussen might have redeemed himself in my
eyes as he met a free-kick by his Danish compatriot Maurits Kj|argaard
with a pretty excellent header: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503011/105686-Record_2025_08_12_21_26_17_426.mp4
and against the run of play Salzburg even took the aggregate lead when
young Ghanaian Edmund Baidoo volleyed in a cross by returnee Stevie
Lainer: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503011/105688-Record_2025_08_12_21_27_31_304.mp4
But Salzburg caved under Brugge's pressure in the second half - Joaquin
Seys was left all alone to volley in a cut-back cross by the conspicuous
young half-time substitute Kyriani Sabbe: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503011/105689-Record_2025_08_12_21_28_04_64.mp4
and seven minutes from time Brugge's new Portuguese signing Carlos Forbs powered with ease past the sluggish Rasmussen (god he's so slow) and
left Alexander Schlager, who until then had almost single-handedly kept
the Belgians at bay, no chance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503011/105690-Record_2025_08_12_21_29_03_360.mp4
Salzburg didn't get anything going in the second half, and when they toothlessly chased the goal that would have sent the tie to extra time
they instead threw away the remaining coefficient points, too, as on the
break Christos Tziolis side-stepped two tame challenges and teed up
Brugge's veteran captain Hans Vanaken, who calmly slotted past Schlager: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503011/105692-Record_2025_08_12_21_29_40_722.mp4


SL BENFICA (POR)* v OGC Nice (FRA) 2-0 (2-0), 4-0 on aggregate
(Aursnes 19', Schjelderup 27')

Benfica assured themselves of their place in the playoffs already early
on, and it was their Norwegian duo Andreas Schjelderup and Fredrik
Aursnes who assisted each other for both goals: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503015/105685-Record_2025_08_12_21_22_29_971.mp4
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503015/105695-Record_2025_08_12_21_31_20_61.mp4



Draw for Champions League Playoff (August 19/20 and 26/27)
* = seeded team
Winners go to CL League Stage, Losers go to EL League Stage


Champions Path

Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)* v Qaraba-f FK (AZE)
FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)* v Pafos FC (CYP)*
FK Bod|+/Glimt (NOR)* v SK Sturm Graz (AUT)
Celtic FC (SCO)* v FC Kairat (KAZ)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI) v FC K|+benhavn (DEN)*


League Path

Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR) v SL Benfica (POR)*
Rangers FC (SCO) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)*



Ciao,
Werner
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Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Champions League Play-off Round 1st Leg
* = seeded team


August 19


Champions Path


Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)* v Qaraba-f FK (AZE) 1-3 (1-0)
(Varga 29'; Jankovi-c 50', Medina 67', Qurbanl-# 85')

The first half was quite even with chances on both sides, and Robbie
Keane's side took the lead through their reliable goalscorer upfront
Barnab|is Varga who collected a cross by the Latvian Leverkusen youth
product Cebrail Makreckis and beat Qaraba-f's Polish keeper Mateusz
Kochalski with a turn-and-volley: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504590/107050-Record_2025_08_19_21_29_37_552.mp4
The Azeri were much better after the break though and quickly equalised
thanks to Montenegrin midfielder Marko Jankovi-c whose shot from distance
went through a forest of legs: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504590/107054-Record_2025_08_19_22_08_01_482.mp4
Colombian centre-back Kevin Medina, by now in his sixth season in Baku,
found himself in acres of space to volley in after a corner kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504590/107062-Record_2025_08_19_22_25_17_831.mp4
and a counter-attack ended with Kady Borges - ironically back with
Qaraba-f since the beginning of the year following an unsuccessful
stint with Ferencv|iros - providing a simple through ball that the
substitute Musa Qurbanl-# slotted in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504590/107064-Record_2025_08_19_22_43_02_390.mp4


FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)* v Pafos FC (CYP)* 1-2 (0-1)
(Bruno Duarte 58'; Correia 1', P|-p|- 52' (pen))

38 seconds into the game Pafos took a shock lead when Cape Verdean
right-back Jo|uo Correia beat Red Star's Brazilian keeper Matheus with a slightly deflected shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504591/107041-Record_2025_08_19_21_05_58_391.mp4
After that it was all Red Star, but the Serbian champions were mostly
limited to crosses and headers, and it appeared as if Pafos had scored
also with their second meaningful attack but VAR correctly determined
that Bruno had met Kostas Pileas's cross with his upper arm instead of
with his head or with his shoulder: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504591/107052-Record_2025_08_19_21_35_40_277.mp4
This was not to be Bruno's last brush in this game with playing the
wrong sport - it was his cross that went against the outstretched arm
of Red Star's Slovenian midfielder Timi El+inik, and Bruno himself
elbowed away a corner kick. The two penalties were converted by P|-p|- and Bruno Duarte, respectively, albeit with Bruno Duarte needing to head in
the rebound as Pafos's excellent keeper Neofytos Michail had saved his
initial effort. Red Star kept pressing for the equaliser but late on
they were also lucky that a point blank shot by former World Cup
semifinalist Mislav Or+ii-c was met with a great save by Matheus, and that Pafos's Brazilian substitute Jaj|i dragged his shot wide.

Again, no Marko Arnautovi-c in the squad. I'm honestly wondering how long
Red Star's patience will last. You'd normally want the guy you broke the
bank for to feature in really important games like this one.



League Path


Rangers FC (SCO) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)* 1-3 (1-3)
(Danilo 50'; Vermant 3', Spileers 7', Mechele 20')

Rangers had a dreadful start to the game - three minutes in a brain-
fart by new Burkinab|- centre-back Nasser Djiga, on loan from Wolves,
allowed Romeo Vermant to lob Jack Butland: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504592/107045-Record_2025_08_19_21_04_38_129.mp4
and just four minutes later young centre-back Jorne Spileers found
himself completely alone in the box to meet Christos Tzolis's corner
kick with a volley that beat Butland also thanks to a slight deflection: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504592/107046-Record_2025_08_19_21_08_45_998.mp4
Brugge's other centre-back Brandon Mechele soon added a third by rifling
in from twenty metres after the Rangers defence had failed to clear the
ball properly: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504592/107048-Record_2025_08_19_21_21_36_345.mp4
The only first-half chance for the Glaswegians, who were roundly booed
at half-time, was a Rothwell free-kick that went off the outside of the
post. Rangers were better in the second half though, and half-time
substitute Danilo stabbed home Brentford loanee Jayden Meghoma's
excellent cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504592/107059-Record_2025_08_19_22_11_32_642.mp4
Rangers prospects for the return leg could have looked a bit better if
VAR hadn't correctly disallowed Djeidi Gassama's goal after a solo run
because Brugge keeper Mignolet had already had a hand on the ball: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504592/107065-Record_2025_08_19_22_40_17_500.mp4
and a last-second penalty shout likewise led to nothing.



August 20


Champions Path

FK Bod|+/Glimt (NOR)* v SK Sturm Graz (AUT) 5-0 (3-0)
(H|+gh 7', Bj|+rtuft 10', Saltnes 25', Evjen 54', B|+ving 79' (og))

Any dreams of a second consecutive group phase for Sturm were over after
not even half an hour. Other teams have already found it difficult on
Bod|+'s artificial pitch north of the polar circle, but that didn't make
the way the Norwegian champions ran rings around the Austrian defence
any less painful. Kasper H|+gh started the rout by chipping Jens Petter
Hauge's feed over Sturm's new Danish keeper Oliver Christensen: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504593/107227-Za%CC%81znam%20obrazovky%202025-08-20%20v%C2%A021.07.15.mp4
Odin Bj|+rtuft then headed in Patrick Berg's corner kick, and while
Sturm's only sign of life in the first half was a shot by Tomi Horvat
that went off the crossbar at the other end Ulrik Saltnes controlled
another Hauge assist with a great touch before beating Christensen at
his near post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504593/107240-Za%CC%81znam%20obrazovky%202025-08-20%20v%C2%A021.25.16.mp4
There was no pushback by Sturm in the second half either, and H|Nkon
Evjen added a fourth when his shot was deflected past a helpless
Christensen: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504593/107250-Za%CC%81znam%20obrazovky%202025-08-20%20v%C2%A022.14.13.mp4
and B|+ving under no real pressure awkwardly stumbling Hauge's cross into
his own net was a fitting finish to this game: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504593/107254-Za%CC%81znam%20obrazovky%202025-08-20%20v%C2%A022.38.59.mp4

Norway will have a team in the Champions League for the first time in
18 years, Rosenborg in 2007-08 had been the last one.
Sturm will be able to play Europa League at home in Graz, and not have
to move to Klagenfurt. Everybody wins!


Celtic FC (SCO)* v FC Kairat (KAZ) 0-0 (0-0)

Kairat were in Glasgow only to defend, but they did that very well. The
closest Celtic came to scoring was a shot by James Forrest right after
the re-start that went off the post, while Kairat could have scored out
of nowhere, but Edmilson's lob from the centre circle beat Kasper
Schmeichel but also flew just over the crossbar.


FC Basel 1893 (SUI) v FC K|+benhavn (DEN)* 1-1 (1-1)
(Shaqiri 14' (pen); Pereira 45'+3; Red Card: Adjetey (Bas) 82')

Early on Rodrigo Huescas's shoulder grab against Albian Ajeti was
punished with a penalty, despatched by homeboy Xherdan Shaqiri. The
Danish champions got the equaliser just before the break when Basel
keeper Marwin Hitz flew spectacularly past a cross by FCK's Peruvian
left-back Marcos L||pez and Gabriel Pereira nodded in at the far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504595/107249-Record_2025_08_20_21_54_08_924.mp4
Late on Basel's young Ghanaian centre-back Jonas Adjetey was sent off
with a second yellow for bringing down Youssoufa Moukoko on the break.



League Path


Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR) v SL Benfica (POR)* 0-0 (0-0)
(Red Card: Florentino (Ben) 71')

A pretty rough match in which neither side threatened the opponent's
goal too much, not even after Florentino had been sent off with a second booking for a wrestling move against Talisca, and both -#rfan Can
E-fribayat and Anatoliy Trubin were more than up to the task of keeping
out everything that came their way.




Ciao,
Werner
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Qualifying scheme: https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2024-27-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png


Champions League Play-off Round 2nd Leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS through to CL League Stage, Losers to EL League Stage.



August 26


Champions Path


FC KAIRAT (KAZ) v Celtic FC (SCO)* 0-0 aet (0-0, 0-0), 0-0 on aggregate, Kairat win 3-2 on penalties

A poor match between two pretty nervous teams with few chances on either
side. Kairat's excellent young reserve keeper Temirlan Anarbekov parried
a close-range header by James Forrest while at the other end Kasper
Schmeichel had to use his glove to push Callum McGregor's awkward back
pass over the bar, which resulted in an indirect free-kick for Kairat
that was blocked thanks to one of those scenes right out of a
Renaissance painting: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504597/108429-Record_2025_08_26_19_56_34_146.mp4
Four minutes from time Daizen Maeda could have won it for Celtic, but one-on-one with Anarbekov he fired wide: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504597/108467-Record_2025_08_26_20_29_04_597.mp4
Celtic were also the better team in extra time, but Anarbekov did very
well to keep out shots by Luke McCowan and especially Benjamin Nygren.
After 210+ goalless minutes the first three penalties in the shoot-out
were also missed - Anarbekov saved against Adam Idah and McCowan while
Valery Gromyko sent his Panenka against the crossbar - and Anarbekov
also finally parried against the unlucky Maeda.

Kairat are not the first team to make it into the Champions League
proper by surviving four qualification rounds (e.g. Slovan Bratislava
did it last year), but they are the first one to do so while being
unseeded in every round. Congrats!

They are also only the second ever Kazakh side to qualify for the
Champions League proper, after Astana in 2015-16. Matches in Almaty in
December or January could become... interesting.


PAFOS FC (CYP) v FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)* 1-1 (0-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Jaj|i 89'; Ivani-c 60')

The Cypriot champions appeared to have everything under control against harmless Serbians but Red Star managed to equalise when a shot by Mirko
Ivani-c took a massive deflection off Derrick Luckassen: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504598/108536-Record_2025_08_26_22_18_42_416.mp4
Still, in the last minute Pafos scored a brilliant and fully deserved
equaliser that sent them through to the Champions League proper in only
their second ever European campaign - in a studied move Brazilian
substitute Jaj|i chipped P|-p|-'s free-kick perfectly over his compatriot Matheus in the Red Star net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504598/108549-Record_2025_08_26_22_48_29_743.mp4

Incidentally, that goal was a bit reminiscent of the one that eliminated
Red Star in the Champions League Playoffs three years ago - only back
then they played at home (against Maccabi Haifa), and it was their own
player who volleyed in a free-kick in the last minute. To compare: https://web.archive.org/web/20230823144759im_/https://thumbs.gfycat.com/UntidyElementaryAmericanpainthorse-mobile.mp4

Marko Arnautovi-c came on as a substitute but was most noticeable when he
was involved in a bust-up in the player tunnels after the match. The
headlines in Belgrade are not very favourable right now.


SK Sturm Graz (AUT) v FK BOD|y/GLIMT (NOR)* 2-1 (1-1), 2-6 on aggregate
(Jatta 30', Oermann 73'; J|+rgensen 15')

Bod|+ proved that their pretty passing game isn't limited to their
artificial turf at home as Jens Petter Hauge slipped a pass through to
former AaB winger Mathias J|+rgensen and the Dane beat his compatriot
Oliver Christensen in the Sturm net with a quick turn-and-shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504599/108499-Record_2025_08_26_21_15_36_886.mp4
Norwegian striker Seedy Jatta, for quite a while now teetering on the
brink of turning into a costly transfer flop, got the equaliser for the Austrian champions by heading in the rebound from Tomi Horvat's point
blank shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504599/108504-Record_2025_08_26_21_30_26_547.mp4
Sturm captain Jon Gorenc Stankovi-c then headed against the post, and
after the break William B|+ving likewise only hit the woodwork, but
against a Bod|+ side that clearly wasn't giving their all Sturm finally
scored the deserved winner when a speculative shot by Leverkusen loanee
Tim Oermann was deflected by Villads Nielsen past his own keeper: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504599/108551-Record_2025_08_26_23_41_14_55.mp4

Hurray, coefficient points!



August 27


Champions Path


QARABA-R FK (AZE) v Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)* 2-3 (2-1), 5-4 on aggregate (Andrade 25', Zoubir 45'; Joseph 12', Varga 55' (pen), T||th 82')

Frenchman Lenny Joseph gave the Hungarian champions some early hope when
he tapped in a cross by Barnab|is Varga: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504600/108722-Record_2025_08_27_20_33_55_846.mp4
with the goal being validated by VAR who overruled the original offside
call on the pitch. But it appeared as if the Azeri had decided the tie
for good already before the break as Cape Verdean winger Leandro Andrade
rolled into the empty net after N+Oriman Axundzad+O had beaten Bence |utv||s cleanly on the left wing: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504600/108723-Record_2025_08_27_20_34_38_319.mp4
and another counter attack ended with Abdellah Zoubir sweeping in
Andrade's feed: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504600/108724-Record_2025_08_27_20_35_29_72.mp4
But Ferencv|iros fought back in the second half - Qaraba-f's Colombian centre-back Kevin Medina was a fraction of a second late to a 50-50 ball
and so mostly kicked the outstretched leg of Joseph, with Varga
converting the ensuing penalty, and late on a brilliant free-kick - he
clearly meant to score it like that - by 19-year-old Hungarian
wonderkid Alex T||th brought Fradi once more within one goal of extra
time: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504600/108728-Record_2025_08_27_20_37_39_336.mp4
The Hungarians did have one great chance to score that goal, but
Qaraba-f's Polish keeper Mateusz Kochalski parried Varga's point blank
header.


FC K|yBENHAVN (DEN)* v FC Basel 1893 (SUI) 2-0 (0-0), 3-1 on aggregate (Cornelius 46', Moukoko 84' (pen))

In a game played at great pace but with rather little accuracy one
perfectly placed in-swinging cross by Tunisian midfielder Elias Achouri
was decisive as veteran striker Andreas Cornelius met it with a header
into the corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504601/108792-Record_2025_08_27_22_04_04_893.mp4
FCK's new Croatian keeper Dominik Kotarski then saved brilliantly
from close range against both Xherdan Shaqiri: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504601/108802-Record_2025_08_27_22_21_00_612.mp4
and Moritz Broschinski. Late on a tackle in the box by Basel's Bosnian centre-back Adrian Bari+ii-c against Viktor Claesson was way late, and Youssoufa Moukoko ensured Copenhagen's seventh Champions League
participation from the spot.



League Path


SL BENFICA (POR)* v Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR) 1-0 (1-0), 1-0 on aggregate (Akt|+rko-flu 35'; Red Card: Talisca (Fen) 82')

Less than three minutes in Fenerbah|oe keeper Dominik Livakovi-c pulled
off a great save to deny Luxembourg international Leandro Barreiro, and
Benfica scored two first-half goals that were both correctly disallowed
by VAR for offside, but of all players it was longtime former
Galatasaray winger Kerem Akt|+rko-flu who scored the winner for the
Portuguese when he was found by Barreiro all alone in the box and rifled
in from short range: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504602/108773-Record_2025_08_27_21_37_57_730.mp4
Fenerbah|oe only threatened near the end of the match, but they were
unlucky that a Youssef En-Nesyri header came off the crossbar. It also
didn't help that Anderson Talisca received two yellows in three minutes.


CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL)* v Rangers FC (SCO) 6-0 (5-0), 9-1 on aggregate
(Tresoldi 5', Vanaken 32', Seys 41', 45', Stankovi-c 45'+2, Tzolis 50';
Red Card: Aarons (Ran) 8')

Just like in the first leg Rangers had an atrocious start to the game -
five minutes in German Under-21 striker Nicol|# Tresoldi tapped in a
cross by fellow youngster Joaquin Seys, and three minutes later
Bournemouth loanee Max Aarons was sent off for an egregious last-man
foul: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504603/108758-Record_2025_08_27_21_19_03_589.mp4
Brugge subsequently had their fun against ten Glaswegians, peppered Jack Butland's goal with shots, hit the crossbar twice, and scored five more
goals as well - Hans Vanaken headed in a corner kick by Christos Tzolis,
Seys fired in Kyriani Sabbe's centre at the far post at the second
attempt, and Seys also volleyed in Raphael Onyedika's cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504603/108780-Record_2025_08_27_21_44_20_688.mp4
Dejan's 20-year-old son Aleksandar Stankovi-c likewise headed in a
Vanaken cross, and Tzolis finished off a one-two with Tresoldi. After
goal number six Brugge were satisfied and took the foot off the gas.

Awful performance by Rangers, even if down one man. If Russell Martin
were eligible for the Coach Sacking Competition he'd be a prime
candidate.




Pots for CL Group Stage Draw / August 28 18h00 CEST

As has become usual the draw will take place at the same time as the EL
and ConfL playoffs, and will be done entirely by computer.

Reminder how it works: every team will play four matches at home and
four matches away against eight different opponents, two from each pot.
You can't play against a team from your own league, and at most against
two teams from any other. There is also apparently some mechanism in
place to prevent match-ups from last year's league phase from repeating.
It's something only VARobots are capable of pulling off.

At the end all 36 teams will be ranked in one table, with teams 1st-8th
going directly into the Round of 16, teams 9th-24th playing each other
in a two-legged playoff, and teams below 24th being eliminated.


Pot 1

Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA-1/TH-CL) 118.500
Real Madrid CF (ESP-2) 143.500
Manchester City FC (ENG-3) 137.750
FC Bayern M|+nchen (GER-1) 135.250
Liverpool FC (ENG-1) 125.500
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA-2) 116.250
Chelsea FC (ENG-4) 109.000
BV Borussia 09 Dortmund (GER-4) 106.750
FC Barcelona (ESP-1) 103.250


Pot 2

Arsenal FC (ENG-2) 98.000
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER-2) 95.250
Club Atl|-tico de Madrid (ESP-3) 93.500
SL Benfica (POR-2) 87.750
Atalanta BC (ITA-3) 82.000
Villarreal CF (ESP-5) 82.000
Juventus FC (ITA-4) 74.250
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER-3) 74.000
Club Brugge KV (BEL-2) 71.750


Pot 3

Tottenham Hotspur FC (TH-EL) 70.250
PSV (NED-1) 69.250
AFC Ajax (NED-2) 67.250
SSC Napoli (ITA-1) 61.000
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR-1) 59.000
Olympiacos FC (GRE-1) 56.600
SK Slavia Praha (CZE-1) 51.000
FK Bod|+/Glimt (NOR-1) 49.000
Olympique de Marseille (FRA-2) 48.000


Pot 4

FC K|+benhavn (DEN-1) 44.875
AS Monaco FC (FRA-2) 24.000
Galatasaray SK (TUR-1) 38.250
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL-1) 36.000
Qaraba-f FK (AZE-1) 32.000
Athletic Club (ESP-4) 26.750
Newcastle United FC (ENG-5) 23.039
Pafos FC (CYP-1) 11.125
FC Kairat (KAZ-1) 5.500


Four Champions League debutants - Bod|+/Glimt, Saint-Gilloise, Pafos,
and Kairat.



Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

In article <108o8cq$o9fl$1@solani.org>,
Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:

Pot 1

Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA-1/TH-CL) 118.500
Real Madrid CF (ESP-2) 143.500
Manchester City FC (ENG-3) 137.750
FC Bayern M|+nchen (GER-1) 135.250
Liverpool FC (ENG-1) 125.500
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA-2) 116.250
Chelsea FC (ENG-4) 109.000
BV Borussia 09 Dortmund (GER-4) 106.750
FC Barcelona (ESP-1) 103.250

Pot 2

Arsenal FC (ENG-2) 98.000
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER-2) 95.250
Club Atl|-tico de Madrid (ESP-3) 93.500
SL Benfica (POR-2) 87.750
Atalanta BC (ITA-3) 82.000
Villarreal CF (ESP-5) 82.000
Juventus FC (ITA-4) 74.250
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER-3) 74.000
Club Brugge KV (BEL-2) 71.750

Pot 3

Tottenham Hotspur FC (TH-EL) 70.250
PSV (NED-1) 69.250
AFC Ajax (NED-2) 67.250
SSC Napoli (ITA-1) 61.000
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR-1) 59.000
Olympiacos FC (GRE-1) 56.600
SK Slavia Praha (CZE-1) 51.000
FK Bod|+/Glimt (NOR-1) 49.000
Olympique de Marseille (FRA-2) 48.000

Pot 4

FC K|+benhavn (DEN-1) 44.875
AS Monaco FC (FRA-2) 24.000
Galatasaray SK (TUR-1) 38.250
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL-1) 36.000
Qaraba-f FK (AZE-1) 32.000
Athletic Club (ESP-4) 26.750
Newcastle United FC (ENG-5) 23.039
Pafos FC (CYP-1) 11.125
FC Kairat (KAZ-1) 5.500

Four Champions League debutants - Bod|+/Glimt, Saint-Gilloise, Pafos,
and Kairat.

Extracted the most imporant part!
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From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Werner Pichler wrote:

Pot 1

Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA-1/TH-CL) 118.500
Real Madrid CF (ESP-2) 143.500
Manchester City FC (ENG-3) 137.750
FC Bayern M|+nchen (GER-1) 135.250
Liverpool FC (ENG-1) 125.500
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA-2) 116.250
Chelsea FC (ENG-4) 109.000
BV Borussia 09 Dortmund (GER-4) 106.750
FC Barcelona (ESP-1) 103.250

Pot 2

Arsenal FC (ENG-2) 98.000
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER-2) 95.250
Club Atl|-tico de Madrid (ESP-3) 93.500
SL Benfica (POR-2) 87.750
Atalanta BC (ITA-3) 82.000
Villarreal CF (ESP-5) 82.000
Juventus FC (ITA-4) 74.250
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER-3) 74.000
Club Brugge KV (BEL-2) 71.750

Pot 3

Tottenham Hotspur FC (TH-EL) 70.250
PSV (NED-1) 69.250
AFC Ajax (NED-2) 67.250
SSC Napoli (ITA-1) 61.000
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR-1) 59.000
Olympiacos FC (GRE-1) 56.600
SK Slavia Praha (CZE-1) 51.000
FK Bod|+/Glimt (NOR-1) 49.000
Olympique de Marseille (FRA-2) 48.000

Pot 4

FC K|+benhavn (DEN-1) 44.875
AS Monaco FC (FRA-2) 24.000
Galatasaray SK (TUR-1) 38.250
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL-1) 36.000
Qaraba-f FK (AZE-1) 32.000
Athletic Club (ESP-4) 26.750
Newcastle United FC (ENG-5) 23.039
Pafos FC (CYP-1) 11.125
FC Kairat (KAZ-1) 5.500

Six English Premier League teams in the draw! Three of
them in Pot 1. You don't often see that!

Instead of UEFA giving Chelsea FC a special award today
(for winning all of their trophies) all we ask is, be nice
and give them an easy draw. :-)

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

In article <xn0pa31o745wawi000@post.eweka.nl>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:

Werner Pichler wrote:

Pot 1

Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA-1/TH-CL) 118.500
Real Madrid CF (ESP-2) 143.500
Manchester City FC (ENG-3) 137.750
FC Bayern M|+nchen (GER-1) 135.250
Liverpool FC (ENG-1) 125.500
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA-2) 116.250
Chelsea FC (ENG-4) 109.000
BV Borussia 09 Dortmund (GER-4) 106.750
FC Barcelona (ESP-1) 103.250

Pot 2

Arsenal FC (ENG-2) 98.000
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER-2) 95.250
Club Atl|-tico de Madrid (ESP-3) 93.500
SL Benfica (POR-2) 87.750
Atalanta BC (ITA-3) 82.000
Villarreal CF (ESP-5) 82.000
Juventus FC (ITA-4) 74.250
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER-3) 74.000
Club Brugge KV (BEL-2) 71.750

Pot 3

Tottenham Hotspur FC (TH-EL) 70.250
PSV (NED-1) 69.250
AFC Ajax (NED-2) 67.250
SSC Napoli (ITA-1) 61.000
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR-1) 59.000
Olympiacos FC (GRE-1) 56.600
SK Slavia Praha (CZE-1) 51.000
FK Bod|+/Glimt (NOR-1) 49.000
Olympique de Marseille (FRA-2) 48.000

Pot 4

FC K|+benhavn (DEN-1) 44.875
AS Monaco FC (FRA-2) 24.000
Galatasaray SK (TUR-1) 38.250
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL-1) 36.000
Qaraba-f FK (AZE-1) 32.000
Athletic Club (ESP-4) 26.750
Newcastle United FC (ENG-5) 23.039
Pafos FC (CYP-1) 11.125
FC Kairat (KAZ-1) 5.500

Six English Premier League teams in the draw! Three of
them in Pot 1. You don't often see that!

Instead of UEFA giving Chelsea FC a special award today
(for winning all of their trophies) all we ask is, be nice
and give them an easy draw. :-)

As long as PSG finishes below 24th !
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
All I want to hear from JEsus Christ is WEll done Good and Faithful servant
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer



The Doctor wrote:

As long as PSG finishes below 24th !

I wouldn't hold your breath on that one... in fact, I'll
make a bold prediction and say that PSG will finish above
the Arse.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer



Blueshirt wrote:

Instead of UEFA giving Chelsea FC a special award today
(for winning all of their trophies) all we ask is, be
nice and give them an easy draw. :-)

Home games:

Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, Pafos.

Away games:

Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Napoli, Quarabag.

Hmmm... not an easy draw, but doable...
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

In article <xn0pa4h45n7u69v000@post.eweka.nl>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

As long as PSG finishes below 24th !

I wouldn't hold your breath on that one... in fact, I'll
make a bold prediction and say that PSG will finish above
the Arse.

In the groups stage?
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
All I want to hear from JEsus Christ is WEll done Good and Faithful servant
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

In article <xn0pa4haen836v7001@post.eweka.nl>,
Blueshirt <blueshirt@indigo.news> wrote:

Blueshirt wrote:

Instead of UEFA giving Chelsea FC a special award today
(for winning all of their trophies) all we ask is, be
nice and give them an easy draw. :-)

Home games:

Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, Pafos.

Away games:

Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Napoli, Quarabag.

Hmmm... not an easy draw, but doable...

Same challenge for evryone.
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
All I want to hear from JEsus Christ is WEll done Good and Faithful servant
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2