English Premiership sides Chelsea and Newcastle United, four-times winners Ajax Amsterdam, Scotland’s Celtic, Italy’s Lazio and French side Marseille can look confidently towards their final Champions League hurdle.
But German side Borussia Dortmund, Spain’s Deportivo La Coruna and Scotland’s Rangers face tricky second leg ties in the final qualifying round matches spread over Tuesday and Wednesday.
The losers will miss out on a minimum 10-million euros from playing in the Champions League group matches.
Chelsea, whose $120-million dollar splash on new players has brought three wins in a row, tackle Slovak side MSK Zilina with a two-goal advantage from the away leg.
Chelsea completed the signing of Bordeaux’s Russian midfielder Alexei Smertin on Monday to take the London club’s spending to almost $126-million under new Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
Another $28-million is expected to go on Inter Milan’s Hernan Crespo after their Champions League qualifier.
Ajax, knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan in last season’s quarterfinals, drew 1-1 away to Austrian side Graz AK two weeks ago.
Newcastle, who reached the second phase last season, won 1-0 at Partizan Belgrade two weeks ago but must bounce back from Saturday’s 2-1 Premiership defeat at home to Manchester United.
Peruvian star Nobby Solano, who scored the crucial away goal, returns after missing the United defeat when he was rested after playing for his country in midweek against Mexico. Wednesday will be a club record 28th European tie for Solano.
He replaces Lee Bowyer who again flattered to deceive in a wide right position against United and who is banned for six matches for stamping on a Real Malaga player while playing for Leeds in a Uefa Cup match last year.
Lazio, who have loaned their Spanish international Gaizka Mendieta to English Premiership side Middlesbrough, travel to Portugal leading 3-1 from their first leg against Benfica.
Scottish champions Celtic have the comfort of a four-goal from their first leg win over MTK in Budapest.
Marseille face Austria Vienna with a 1-0 cushion from the away leg goal from 19-year-old Russian striker Dmitri Sychev.
Dortmund, the 1997 champions, can count on a Marcio Amoroso away goal in a 2-1 defeat at Club Brugge aware that a 1-0 win will see them through.
But they have to play better than they did in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Cologne.
Rangers, held 1-1 in Glasgow by Copenhagen, could face an early switch to the Uefa Cup if they lose in Denmark.
They gave themselves a boost with a 5-2 win over Hibernian at Ibrox on Saturday with a brace of goals from Dutch striker Michael Mols.
But they may be without midfield star Barry Ferguson, who is on the verge of signing for English Premiership side Blackburn.
La Coruna, after a goalless draw away to Rosenborg, have to find their rhythm against the Norwegian side without the benefit of having played any football in their own league, which kicks off next weekend, and without Dutch striker Roy Makaay.
Last season’s leading scorer was sold to Bayern Munich in the close-season.
Galatasaray SK striker Umit Karan will miss his side’s return leg with PFC Sofia after undergoing a groin operation but the Turks are already 3-0 up from the first leg.
The winners go into Thursday’s draw for the first round group stage of the Champions League. — Sapa-AFP
Fixtures
Tuesday
Sparta Prague (CZE) v Vardar (MKD) (3-2)
Chelsea (ENG) v MSK Zilina (SVK) (2-0)
Wisla Krakow (POL) v Anderlecht (BEL) (1-3)
Deportivo La Coruna (SPA) v Rosenborg (NOR) (0-0)
Wednesday
Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) (0-1)
CSKA Sofia (BUL) v Galatasaray (TUR) (0-3)
FC Copenhagen (DEN) v Rangers (SCO) (1-1)
Ajax Amsterdam (NED) v Graz (AUT) (1-1)
AEK Athens (GRE) v Grasshopper Zurich (SWI) (0-1)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Dynamo Kiev (UKR) (1-3)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Club Brugge (BEL) (1-2)
Slavia Prague (CZE) v Celta Vigo (SPA) (0-3)
Newcastle (ENG) v Partizan Belgrade (SEM) (1-0)
Celtic (SCO) v MTK Hungaria (HUN) (4-0)
Marseille (FRA) v Austria Vienna (AUT) (1-0)
Benfica (POR) v Lazio (ITA) (1-3)