Champions League Preliminary Rounds - Tough opposition for Celtic and Rangers

Ozren Podnar

Things are getting serious in the qualifiers for the Champions' League. Some of the big guns have joined the race which will produce 16 participants in the group stage, and the 3rd preliminary round will divert some of the previous European club cup winners to the UEFA Cup.

It will be either the Rangers (Cup Winners' Cup champions in 1972) or Crvena Zvezda (European Cup winners in 1991) in one of the top ties of the round. Another clash between former European winners sees Werder Bremen (Cup Winners' Cup champions in 1992) confront Dinamo Zagreb (Fairs' Cup winners in 1967).

Scottish champions Celtic cannot possibly have an easy ride against a resurgent Spartak Moscow, while the double UEFA Cup winners Sevilla cannot dismiss Rivaldo's newside, AEK Athens, especially if they don't build a solid advantage before visiting Greece.

The English pair of Arsenal and Liverpool, forced to cross the minefield of the 3rd preliminary round in hope of reaching the euro-loaded group stage, have been dealt tough opposition in Sparta Prague and Toulouse.

The Reds have more to fear: the French side that sensationally qualified for the Champions' League started the current season in style by defeating Lyon - who have won the French title the last six times.

In the previous round, the biggest upset was created by Bosnian champions Sarajevo, who knocked out Racing Genk on the away goals' rule, surprisingly winning in Belgium before losing 0-1 at Kosevo Stadium.

Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) themselves also went through on away goals' rule against the lowly Levadia of Estonia, barely saving their skins in the last 25 minutes of the return game.

The most dramatic game was played in Prague where Slavia saw off the Slovakian side Zilina on penalties, after 210 goalless minutes.

Champions' League - 1st Preliminary Round

Champions' League - 2nd Preliminary Round

3rd Preliminary Round (August 14/15th and 21/22nd)

Spartak Moscow v Celtic Glasgow
Ajax Amsterdam v Slavia Prague
Sarajevo v Dinamo Kiev
Fenerbahce v Anderlecht
Toulouse v Liverpool
Lazio v Dinamo Bucharest
Sparta Prague v Arsenal
Sevilla v AEK Athens
Tampere Utd. v Rosenborg Trondheim
Werder Bremen v Dinamo Zagreb
Benfica Lisbon v FC Kobenhavn
Rangers v Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
BATE Borisov v Steaua Bucharest
Red Bull Salzburg v Shahtar Donetsk
Zurich v Beskitas Istanbul
Valencia v Elfsborg Boras

Ozren Podnar

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