Former European champions Celtic and Ajax have work to do in the Champions League third qualifying round, seconds legs this week if they are to reach the next round.
The prospect of a Champions League group stage place will move one step closer to reality for 15 teams when the third qualifying round concludes tomorrow, though Celtic and Ajax will have to sweat to remain in contention.
Four-time European champions Ajax and Celtic – cup winners in 1967 – face the possibility of a premature exit following the first-leg encounters last month.
Celtic are in the greatest danger after losing 3-0 in Portugal to competition debutants SC Braga, while Ajax need to score when they travel to Greek club PAOK Salonika having drawn 1-1 at the Amsterdam Arena.
Braga will not know what has hit them when they run out at Parkhead tomorrow night, according to Daryl Murphy. The summer signing claims the visitors will not have reckoned with the 60,000 baying fans that will greet them at Parkhead.
“They’re in for a shock,” said the striker, who joined from Sunderland two weeks ago.
“Obviously, they’ve heard about it and probably watched games on TV and seen it. But they’d have to experience it for themselves and it will be very intimidating for them to come with such a packed stadium.”
Meanwhile, FK Partizan and Dynamo Kiev can breathe more easily after 3-0 home victories. The former all but ended the hopes of HJK Helsinki whereas Dynamo Kiev made it a night to forget for the competition’s other new entrants, KAA Gent.
Anderlecht – 3-1 winners at The New Saints FC – are also well placed to qualify for the play-offs, as are FC Basel 1893, 2-0 victors at Debreceni VSC.
The play-off draw, which will involve Auxerre, Sevilla, Tottenham Hotspur, Sampdoria and Werder Bremen, will be made on Friday.
Third qualifying round, 2nd legs
Playing today
H. Tel-Aviv vs Aktobe (0-1); Andelecht vs TNS (3-1).
Tomorrow
Copenhagen vs Bate Borisov (0-0); Rosenborg vs AIK Solna (1-0); FC Basel vs Debreceni (2-0); HJK Helsinki vs Partizan Belgrade (0-3); Dinamo Zagreb vs Sheriff (1-1); PAOK Salonika vs Ajax (1-1); Fenerbahce vs Young Boys (2-2); Celtic vs Braga (0-3); Salzburg vs Omonia (1-1); Ghent vs Dynamo Kiev (0-3); MSK Zilina vs Litex Lovech (1-1); Zenit SP vs Unirea Urziceni (0-0); Lech Poznan vs Sparta Prague (0-1).
Play-offs round: August 17-18 and August 24-25.