Liverpool and Arsenal will be hoping
to avoid Spartak Moscow in the qualifying stage of the Champions
League
Arsenal or Liverpool have featured in each of the past three
Champions League finals, but must take the long way round if they
are to preserve English footballs recent good record in the
competition by reaching next years final in Moscow. The past two
seasons beaten finalists take their place in todays third
qualifying round draw in Nyon, Switzerland, alongside such
luminaries as FC Pyunik of Armenia and Tampere United of Finland,
either of whom they would be happy to face in the two-legged ties
scheduled to take place on August 14-15 and August
28-29.
Such European footballing heavyweights as Valencia, Lazio and
Seville, the Uefa Cup holders, are also in a draw that contains
five former winners of the trophy, but both English clubs are
protected by being among the 16 seeds, which also prevents them
being drawn against each other. Celtic are also seeded and Rangers
will be, too, should they complete an expected second qualifying
round victory over FK Zeta, of Montenegro, whom they beat 2-0 at
Ibrox in the first leg. The draw, which will take place at 11am, is
complicated by the fact that five of the seeds and nine of the
nonseeds will come from second qualifying round ties that will be
completed next week.
Although Arsenal and Liverpool will have genuine designs on
reaching the Russian capital, neither will want to do so this
month, with Spartak Moscow perhaps the most dangerous potential
opponents in the draw. Liverpool have suffered from starting slowly
in recent seasons, but they would have to be up to speed against
the Russians, who are top of their domestic league after 18
matches. Arsenal were beaten in Moscow by CSKA in last seasons
group phase. Arsène Wenger has not won in Russia in 11 years at the
club, with Spartak beating them 4-1 at home in a Champions League
group match in November 2000.
There is a strong chance of both clubs being forced to revisit
familiar journeys, with Arsenal surely hoping for another tie
against Sparta Prague. Wengers side have won all four of their
meetings with the Czech Republic club and completed a Champions
League double over them on their way to the final two seasons ago.
Thierry Henry broke the clubs goalscoring record in the away game.
A reunion with Salzburg, who beat Arsenal in a friendly during this
seasons Austrian training camp, would also hold few fears.
Liverpool could return to the scene of either of their Champions
League final appearances in the past three years, given that the
non-seeds feature AEK Athens and Fenerbahçe, of Istanbul, while
Dynamo Bucharest, Tou-louse and FC Zurich are also potential
opponents.
Although beginning a Champions League campaign only a few days
after the start of the Barclays Premier League season is an
unwanted inconvenience, Liverpool know it could be even worse after
being forced to enter at the first qualifying round stage two years
ago when they met TNS, the Welsh club, on July 13, seven weeks
after lifting the trophy in Istanbul.
Any club beaten in the third qualifying round have the consolation
of entry into the first round of the Uefa Cup, with the draw for
the second qualifying round taking place today. Blackburn Rovers
take their place after qualifying via the Intertoto Cup and will
hope to join Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton in the
first round next month.