Some unfamiliar names could reach this season’s 32-team group stage of the Champions League.
Some of Europe’s powers, including last season’s runners-up Arsenal, six-time champions AC Milan and 2005 champions Liverpool, face tough opposition in the final qualifying round for the Champions League.
Games are on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the second legs on August 22 and 23. The 16 survivors move on to the 32-team group stage.
Arsenal, playing without striker Thierry Henry and suspended goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, face a difficult task against Dinamo Zagreb. AC Milan face former champion Red Star Belgrade.
Liverpool are up against Maccabi Haifa. Uefa was to consider on Monday moving the second leg from Israel because of fighting between Israeli’s military and Hezbollah and Palestinian militants.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said it was ”totally unacceptable” to play in Israel.
Dinamo’s second-team striker Goran Ljubojevic said the home crowd would help his team. ”It will be great when Arsenal comes to Zagreb,” Ljubojevic said. ”We will be fully motivated and a full stadium will help us.”
This final qualifying stage is dominated by teams from central and East Europe. A few are well-known clubs — such as former champions Steaua Bucharest and Red Star Belgrade. But several are obscure.
One newcomer is Rabotnicki Skopje of Macedonia, who face French club Lille. Rabotnicki advanced with a 5-2 aggregate win over Hungary’s Debrecen.
Six clubs from central and East Europe were drawn to face each other, meaning three are guaranteed of reaching the group stage.
Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk face Poland’s Legia Warsaw, CSKA Moscow play Ruzomberok of Slovakia and Czech team Slovan Liberec go against Spartak Moscow.
Traditionally dominated by teams from Western Europe, this year’s final 32 promised more diversity.
Two Turkish teams are hoping to get through, with Fenerbahce playing Dynamo Kiev and Galatasaray playing Mlada Boleslav. — Sapa-AP