Champions League third qualifying round draw and betting
1st August, 2008
With the new season just a couple of weeks away, the Champions League third qualifying round draw has been made, with Arsenal pitted against Steve McLaren’s new side FC Twente.
Liverpool and Rangers also have to pass this qualifying stage before they reach the group stages of the greatest competition in European club football. Liverpool will play Belgium’s Standard Leige, whilst Rangers will have to beat Lithuanian side Kaunas away from home in the second leg to face either Aalborg or Modrica.
The first leg ties are to be played on the 12 and 13th August, and the second legs two weeks later on the 26th and 27th August.
UEFA Champions League third round qualifying round draw in full:
- Anorthosis/Rapid Vienna v Olympiakos
- Vitoria Guimaraes v IFK Gothenburg/Basel
- Shakhtar Donetsk v Domzale/Dinamo Zagreb
- Schalke 04 v Atletico Madrid
- Aalborg/Modrica v RANGERS/Kaunas
- Barcelona v Beitar Jerusalem/Wisla Krakow
- Levski Sofia v Anderlecht/BATE
- Standard Liege v LIVERPOOL
- Inter Baku/Partizan v Fenerbahce/MTK Budapest
- FC Twente v ARSENAL
- Spartak Moscow v Drogheda/Dinamo Kiev
- Juventus v Tampere/Artmedia
- SK Brann/Ventspils v Marseille
- Fiorentina v Slavia Prague
- Galatasaray v Steaua Bucharest
- Panathinaikos/Dinamo Tbilisi v Sheriff Tiraspol/Sparta Prague
Looking at the outright market to win the Champions League, Manchester United still lead the betting at best odds of 6/1. Last years’ finalists are second favourite at 7/1, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan not far behind. Arsenal and Liverpool are at 12/1 and 14/1, but both have to navigate their third round qualification games first.
By Chris M
