The final round of Champions League qualifiers has thrown up
some tasty encounters as Steve McClaren will have the reunion from
hell with English football as he has to overcome Arsenal to stand a
chance of guiding his new side, FC Twente, all the way into the
Champions League.
Barcelona have been handed a fairly comfortable draw, though
they may be hoping for a Krakow victory as to avoid a trip all the
way to Jerusalem.
Schalke 04 and Atletico Madrid can count themselves extremely
unlucky at having drawn each other. The Germans had an admirable
run in last year's competition, while a resurgent Atletico side
boasting the likes of Sergio 'Kun' Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez have a
point to prove as they are finally once again mixing with Europe's
elite.
Liverpool and Juventus have fairly comfortable fixtures, facing
Standard Liege and Tampere United/Artmedia respectively. The Reds
will be expected to continue their love affair with the Champions
League while Juventus will be hopeful of making a triumphant return
to the competition, following their exclusion due to
Calciopoli.
Fiorentina, who showed great fight to pip a legendary Milan side to
the final qualification place and also impressed in the UEFA Cup
last season, have drawn one of the toughest sides available in
Czech champions Slavia Praha, and will need their promising new
signings to hit top gear instantly to avoid being caught cold so
early on in the running.
Champions League,
third round qualifiers (to be played August 12/13 and
26/27)
Anorthosis/Rapid Wien v Olympiacos
Vitoria v Goteberg/Basel
Shakhtar Donetsk v Domzale/Dinamo Zagreb
Schalke v Atletico Madrid
Aalborg/Modrica v Rangers/Kaunas
Barcelona v Beitar Jerusalem/Wisla Krakow
Levski Sofia v Anderlecht/BATE Borisov
Standard Liege v Liverpool
Inter Baki/Partizan v Fenerbahçe/MTK
Twente v Arsenal
Spartak Moscow v Drogheda/Dynamo Kiev
Juventus v Tampere United/Artmedia
SK Brann/Ventspils v Marseille
Fiorentina v Slavia Praha
Galatasaray v Steaua Bucharest
Panathinaikos/Dinamo Tblisi v Sheriff/Sparta Praha
The draw for the group stage will take place on August 28.