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In the UEFA Intertoto Cup, 24 teams started the third stage and are aiming for a place in the semi-finals of the tournament. The first nine matches of the third stage were played on Saturday.
Last season's cup winner, Schalke from Gelsenkirchen, started their game in the tournament and achieved the most impressive victory of the day by crushing the club from Macedonia, Vardar, with a score of 5-0. The German club practically secured their place in the semi-finals, where they will meet the winner of the Vėtra - Esbjerg pair.
Another German club HSV managed to secure a draw away against Thun from Switzerland, while Dortmund's Borussia defeated Genk from Belgium. The Russian representative, Shinnik from Yaroslavl, lost 1-4 to Leiria, Liberec and Lille won at home with a one-goal difference against Roda and Dinamo Minsk respectively, and the match between Slaven and Trnava ended goalless.
One of the most interesting pairs of the third stage was Spartak Moscow, who defeated Atlantas in the first stage, and Villarreal, who reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup last season. This time, the Spaniards celebrated victory after Sonny Anderson's goal. Another Spanish club, Atletico Madrid, won a high-scoring match against Zlin.
In the remaining three matches of the third stage on Sunday, Vilnius squad Vėtra will face Esbjerg at 18:00, Nantes will play against Cork, and Tampere will play against OFK.
All the results from Saturday:
- 2 - 2
- Vardar 5 - 0
- Roda 1 - 0
- Slaven - Spartak Trnava 0 - 0
- Dinamo Minsk 2 - 1
- Leiria 1 - 4
- Zlin 2 - 4
- 0 - 1
- 1 - 0
