Basel, HJK, Slovan set up fascinating ties
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
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The third qualifying round picture is clearer after FC Basel 1893 sealed a tie with Molde FK, HJK Helsinki earned a shot at Celtic FC and FC Slovan Liberec advanced to face CFR 1907 Cluj.
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The UEFA Champions League third qualifying round is taking shape after FC Basel 1893 set up a meeting with Molde FK and HJK Helsinki confirmed their tie against Celtic FC.
Twelve of the 17 second qualifying round ties concluded on Tuesday and Basel, who made the round of 16 last season, overcame FC Flora Tallinn 3-0 for a 5-0 aggregate win. Norwegian champions Molde FK drew 1-1 at FK Ventspils for a 4-1 overall success giving their coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær a chance to knock out the club that eliminated Manchester United FC last season.
HJK saw off KR Reykjavík 9-1 on aggregate to ensure a meeting with Celtic while Shamrock Rovers FC, who played in the UEFA Europa League group stage in 2011/12, fell to FK Ekranas 2-1, the Lithuanian side's reward an encounter against RSC Anderlecht. F91 Dudelange, who shocked FC Salzburg to become the first team from Luxembourg to make it this far, take on another club that went through on Tuesday, NK Maribor.
Other ties confirmed were FC Slovan Liberec earning a tie against CFR 1907 Cluj and Hapoel Kiryat Shmona FC and Neftçi PFK setting up a showdown. The remaining four third qualifying round ties will be formed when the last five second legs are played on Wednesday.
Updated third qualifying round draw
Matches 31 July/1 August & 7/8 August
Champions Route
NK Maribor (SVN) v F91 Dudelange (LUX)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR)/FK Vardar (MKD)* v Debreceni VSC (HUN)
CFR 1907 Cluj (ROU) v FC Slovan Liberec (CZE)
RSC Anderlecht (BEL) v FK Ekranas (LTU)
FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)/WKS Śląsk Wroclaw (POL)* v The New Saints FC (WAL)/Helsingsborgs IF (SWE)*
FC Sheriff (MDA) v PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)/GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)*
Celtic FC (SCO) v HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Molde FK (NOR) v FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
Hapoel Kiryat Shmona FC (ISR) v Neftçi PFK (AZE)
AEL Limassol FC (CYP)/Linfield FC (NIR)* v FK Partizan (SRB)
*Tie decided on Wednesday
League Route (begins in third qualifying round)
Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) v SC Vaslui (ROU)
Motherwell FC (SCO) v Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
FC København (DEN) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Feyenoord (NED)