Champions League Qualifiers: Leg 1 Results | OneFootball

Champions League playoff qualifiers wrapped up the Leg 1 fixtures on Wednesday.

Ferencváros 1 – 3 Qarabağ

Next Leg: Wednesday 8/27

It was all Ferencváros in the first half, and they entered the locker room one to the good after Barnabás Varga’s lovely strike in the 29th. But Qarabağ emerged from the tunnel keen as mustard, with Marko Janković belting home a goal in the 50th minute to level it. Qarabağ continued to dominate the game, and except for a 10 minute stretch after falling behind 2 – 1, Ferencváros had no answer to serious questions asked from the visitors. It will be a tall ask indeed for the Hungarian side to rally next week in Azerbaijan.

Red Star Belgrade 1 – 2 Pafos

Next Leg: Tuesday 8/26

It took 39 seconds for Cypriot underdogs Pafos to punch Red Star Belgrade in the nose. Winger João Correia received a pass, wound up and hit a delicious looping strike into the near corner. Despite dominating possession, shots, corners and free kicks, Belgrade fell short. Handling played a major role in the match. Pafos had a second goal ruled out for the infraction, a penalty for either side was granted early in the second half, a second Belgrade penalty was called back when VAR determined a shot hit the player’s back and not an arm. If Pafos can hold out back in Cyprus it would be a real Cinderella story.

Rangers 1 -3 Club Brugge

Next Leg: Wednesday 8/27

This game prefaced a poor showing for Scottish teams across the UEFA tournaments (Celtic drew Kairat on 8/20, and Aberdeen fell to Romania’s FCSB in Conference qualifying earlier today).

Before three minutes had gone, Brugge had snatched the lead after the Rangers’ poor communication between center-back and goalkeeper allowed Romeo Vermant to sprint through and punch the ball in from distance over Jack Butland. Three minutes later an unmarked Jorne Spielers tapped in a goal off a corner kick, and Brugge were off and running. Boos erupted from the Ibrox crowd after Brandon Mechele’s thumping shot gave the visitors a three goal lead, and even an early second half goal from Danilo left Rangers staring at a mighty task next week.

Bodø/Glimt 5 – 0 Sturm Graz

Next Leg: Tuesday 8/26

Jøss!! This was one hell of a beat down by the northernmost team in CL qualifying. On a brooding afternoon thick with storm clouds, it took Bodø/Glimt seven minutes to find the back of the net. They doubled that lead less than three minutes later. In that same ten minute stretch Sturm Graz also created two good chances, only to be denied by keeper Nikita Haikin. At halftime it was 3 – 0. The hosts never looked back, unleashing an offensive tirade in the second half that yielded one more goal and a thoroughly dispirited visiting side. Bodø/Glimt, barring a total collapse next week, look to be back in the Champions League for the second time since 2022/23.

Celtic 0 – 0 Kairat

Next Leg:Tuesday 8/26

What a squandered opportunity. Celtic hosted Kazakh club Kairat, whose claim-to-fame is that they are the last remaining team from the first round. More than 7,000 miles separate Glasgow from Almaty, but not much separated the two sides in terms of quality (or scoreline). It will be a far tougher test for Celtic having to play the second leg away and without a buffer. Manager Brendan Rodgers used this result to publicly call out for more support in the transfer window, stating: “We need to improve the squad.”

Basel 1 – 1 Copenhagen

Next Leg: Wednesday 8/27

On a wet night and sodden field, FC Basel took an early lead after a box fracas led the referee to grant a penalty. Diminutive Xherdan Shaqiri performed the conversion. But Copenhagen answered on the final play of the half, firing in a dangerous cross off a corner. Defender Gabriel Pereira made short work of outstanding service, heading into the net. The second half was a tense, evenly-matched affair. Even Jonas Adjetey’s second yellow in the 81st failed to give Copenhagen the edge to take the lead, though Andreas Cornelius’ gamewinner was called back for offsides.

Fenerbahçe 1 – 1 Benfica

Next Leg: Wednesday 8/27

Hosts Fenerbahçe were spritely in the first half, taking numerous shots but always in the vicinity of Benfica‘s goalkeeper Anatoliy Truman, who was rarely troubled with the save. When Florentino Luís drew a second yellow in the 70th minute, it presaged doom for the visitors, who had hitherto struggled to put up any offensive threat. Youssef En-Nesyri’s 81st minute goal was called back for a fractional offside, and that was the only credible threat from the home team. Fenerbahçe will rue their wasted chance, and must travel to Portugal next week to win.