British clubs handed tough draws
The quest for the famous trophy for many of the big clubs begins now
Friday, 03, Aug 2007 03:13
The four British representatives in the third qualifying round draw for this season's Champions League have been given potentially tricky tasks to make it through to the group stage.
Liverpool, champions of the competition in 2005 and finalists last year under manager Rafael Benitez, will play French side Toulouse who are making their debut appearance in the competition.
Champions League runners-up in 2006, Arsenal, have been drawn against Czech champions Sparta Prague – a well-known side for Arsene Wenger who has come up against them four times in the last six seasons.
The most recent meeting was in the 2005/06 season, when the Gunners played them in the group stage, and the north London faithful will be confident of progressing, having beaten them 3-0 at home and 2-0 away that year.
Scotland will also have two representatives in the third round of the qualifying tournament, provided Rangers convert their 2-0 first-leg lead over Montenegrin side Zeta into an aggregate win.
Rangers have arguably the easiest draw – they are in line to play the winner of the second round tie between Estonian champions Levadia Tallinn and Serbian side Red Star Belgrade.
Scottish champions Celtic have perhaps the toughest task of all to reach the group stages in 2007/08.
Gordon Strachan's men have a difficult trip to Spartak Moscow, who are leading the Russian domestic league at the halfway stage of their season.
Moscow is a difficult place to play regardless but the fact that Spartak's season is well underway could prove a stumbling block for the Bhoys, who will have played just two competitive games before travelling to Russia.
Other notable ties from the third qualifying round include Uefa Cup and European Super Cup champions Sevilla against Greek giants AEK Athens.
Italian side Lazio will play Romania's Dinamo Bucharest and Turkish team Fenerbahce face Belgian outfit Anderlecht.
Ties will be played over two legs, on August 14th/15th and 28th/29th.
Full Champions League third qualifying round draw:
FH Hafnarfjordur/BATE Borisov v Zaglebie Lubin/Steaua Bucharest
Tampere United/Levski Sofia v Astana/Rosenborg
Spartak Moscow v CELTIC
Werder Bremen v NK Domzale/Dinamo Zagreb
FK Ventspils/FC Salzburg v Pyunik/Shakhtar Donetsk
Ajax v MSK Zilina/Slavia Prague
Valencia v Debreceni/Elfsborg
Genk/FK Sarajevo v Dynamo Kiev
Fenerbahce v Anderlecht
RANGERS/FK Zeta v Red Star Belgrade/Levadia Tallinn
Toulouse v LIVERPOOL
Benfica v FC Copenhagen/Beitar Jerusalem
Lazio v Dinamo Bucharest
Sparta Prague v ARSENAL
FC Zurich v Sheriff/Besiktas
Sevilla v AEK Athens