Familiar foes for Greece’s finest

Olympiacos and Panathinaikos must wait for the 3rd Qualifying Round opponents, after both were paired with clubs still involved a 2nd Round tie. Greek Champions Olympiacos were joined by the tie featuring Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta, and Austria club Rapid Wien. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos — who lead their tie by a score of 3-0 — were draw with another undecided opponent, as the upcoming 2nd leg will sort out the winner between Czech side Sparta Prague and and Moldovan club Sheriff.

Anorthosis leads the tie with Rapid Wien with a 3-0 scoreline, and are likely to progress to the final qualifying round. If they do in fact get past Rapid Wien, a tie with Olympiacos will be celebrated by a ten year anniversary. In the 1998/1999 edition of the UEFA Champions League — the last time Olympiacos had to qualify — Anorthosis was their opponent. In that year, Olympiacos emerged 6-3 winners over the two legs.

Panathinaikos sit comfortably on a 3-0 lead heading into their final match with Dinamo Tibilsi, and are likely to progress to the next round. Their eventual opponents aren’t as fortunate. In the tie featuring Sheriff and Sparta Prague, the latter holds a slim 1-0 lead heading into the final leg. Returning home, Sparta Prague is favourite to at least hold on to their away goal lead and progress to the 3rd Qualifying Round. In two previous meetings, Panathinaikos has beaten Sparta Prague on both occassions.

The first leg is scheduled for August 12/13, while the return leg is set for the 26/27. Winners of the 3rd Qualifying Round will enter the UEFA Champions League group stage, while the losers will find themselves in Round 1 of the UEFA Cup.

Third Qualifying Round Match-ups:

Anorthosis Famagusta FC (CYP) / SK Rapid Wien (AUT) vs. Olympiacos CFP (GRE)

Vitória SC (POR) vs. IFK Göteborg (SWE) / FC Basel 1893 (SUI)

FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) vs. NK Domžale (SVN) / NK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)

FC Schalke 04 (GER) vs. Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)

Aalborg BK (DEN) / FK Modriča (BIH) vs. Rangers FC (SCO) / FBK Kaunas (LTU)

FC Barcelona (ESP) vs. Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR) / Wisla Kraków (POL)

PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) vs. RSC Anderlecht (BEL) / FC BATE Borisov (BLR)

R. Standard de Liège (BEL) vs. Liverpool FC (ENG)

FC İnter Bakı (AZE) / FK Partizan (SRB) vs. Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) / MTK Budapest (HUN)

FC Twente (NED)vs. Arsenal FC (ENG)

FC Spartak Moskva (RUS) vs. Drogheda United FC (IRL) / FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)

Juventus (ITA) vs. Tampere United (FIN) / FC Artmedia Petržalka (SVK)

SK Brann (NOR) / FK Ventspils (LVA) vs. Olympique de Marseille (FRA)

ACF Fiorentina (ITA) vs. SK Slavia Praha (CZE)

Galatasaray AS (TUR) vs. FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU)

Panathinaikos FC (GRE) / FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) vs. FC Sheriff (MLD) / AC Sparta Praha (CZE)