Although only the second stage of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers has just begun, on Friday the pairs of the third stage were already clarified. In case of victories, Vilnius "Žalgiris" would face a revenge against FC "Salzburg" (Austria) in the next stage.
The Lithuanians faced the Austrians back in 2013. At that time, both teams fought for a place in the UEFA Europa League. That time, after two matches, the opponents celebrated with a combined result of 7:0. Fate decided that the teams would have another chance to clash in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
Whether this will happen will only be clear on July 21, when the Žalgiris will host the Swedish champions "Malmo" FF in Vilnius. The winner of these matches will advance to the next stage, as the first leg in Sweden ended in a draw.
"Malmo" is also no unknown opponent to "Salzburg". In fact, the Swedes beat the Austrians with a combined result of 4:2 last year and reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
On Friday morning, it was revealed that Žalgiris could meet the following teams: FC "Salzburg" (Austria), FC "Plzen" (Czech Republic), "Apoel" FC (Cyprus)/FK "Vardar" (Macedonia), FC "Bate" (Belarus)/"Dundalk" FC (Ireland), GNK "Dinamo" (Croatia)/CS "Fola Esch" (Luxembourg).
Other pairs of the third qualifying round:
Champions path:
FK "Sarajevo" (Bosnia and Herzegovina)/KKS "Lech" (Poland) v FC "Basel 1893" (Switzerland)
PFC "Ludogorets" (Bulgaria)/FC "Milsami Orhei" (Moldova) v KF "Skenderbeu" (Albania)/"Crusaders" FC (Northern Ireland)
HJK "Helsinki" (Finland)/FK "Ventspils" (Latvia) v NK "Maribor" (Slovenia)/FC "Astana" (Kazakhstan)
"Celtic" FC (Scotland)/"Stjarnan" (Iceland) v "Qarabag" FK (Azerbaijan)/FK "Rudar Pljevlja" (Montenegro)
FK "AS Trenčin" (Slovakia)/FC "Steaua" (Romania) v FK "Partizan" (Serbia)/FC "Dila Gori" (Georgia)
FC "Midtjylland" (Denmark)/"Lincoln" FC (Gibraltar) v "Apoel FC" (Cyprus)/FK "Vardar" (Macedonia)
"Hibernians" FC (Malta)/ "Tel Aviv" Maccabi" (Israel) v FC "Plzen" (Czech Republic)
Zagreb "Dinamo" (Croatia)/CS "Fola Esch" (Luxembourg) v "Molde" FK (Norway)/FC "Pyunik" (Armenia)
"The New Saints" FC (Wales)/"Videoton" FC (Hungary) v FC "Bate" (Belarus)/"Dundalk" FC (Ireland)
League path:
"Panathinaikos" FC (Greece) v "Brugge" KV (Belgium)
BSC "Young Boys" (Switzerland) v AS "Monaco" (France)
Moscow's "CSKA" (Russia) v AC "Sparta" (Czech Republic)
SK "Rapid" (Austria) v AFC "Ajax" (Netherlands)
"Fenerbahce" SK (Turkey) v FC "Shakhtar" (Ukraine)
If "Žalgiris" were to defeat the Swedish champions, the first match of the third round would take place on July 28/29 in Austria, and the second leg - on August 4/5 in Lithuania.
The second leg match between Žalgiris and "Malmo" FF in Vilnius will take place on July 21 at 21:00.
fkzalgiris.lt
