CL Qualifying Draw: Arsenal Get Twente
-
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.
