Benfica has the best chance of reaching the Champions League playoffs. AS Monaco and PSV Eindhoven drew in the first leg of the third qualifying round, with Glasgow Rangers sidelined.
Roger Schmidt as the new coach of Benfica should be very satisfied on Tuesday (08/02/2022). At the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, his side were already leading 3-0 at half-time against FC Midtjylland. Goncalo Ramos with two goals (17th/33rd) and Enzo Fernandez (40th) scored the goals.
After the break, Ramos scored again (61′) to extend the lead to 4-0, but last season’s runners-up in Denmark also scored, from a penalty by Pione Sisto. The 4: 1 should be enough for the Portuguese for the second leg on Tuesday (09.08.2022).
Schmidt, who joined Portugal from PSV Eindhoven, benched former Germany international Julian Weigl.
Volland, Ismail and Nübel in the starting XI
AS Monaco and PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1. Joey Veerman gave the Dutch the lead (38′), Axel Disasi equalized in the 80th minute for the Monegasque, who were superior in the second half. With goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, Ismail Jakobs and Kevin Volland, three German professionals were in the starting XI for AS. Swiss international Breel Embolo, who joined the Principality from Borussia Mönchengladbach, came on in the 75th minute.
At PSV with coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, who replaced Roger Schmidt, Philipp Max had to be replaced after just over an hour.
Rangers lose at St Gilloise
Union St Gilloise, who caused a stir last season as a promoted team in Belgium, won 2-0 against Glasgow Rangers, who lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final in May. Maltese Teddy Teuma scored the first goal in the 27th minute, in the second half Dante Vanzeir added a penalty (76th).
Pilsen wins at Sheriff Tiraspol
Sheriff Tiraspol, who sensationally won the group game 2-1 at eventual winners Real Madrid last season, have to catch up in the second leg against Viktoria Pilsen if they are to be able to play against the all-time greats again. The Czechs won 2-1 on Tuesday, catching up from a deficit.
The game was played in the Moldovan capital Chisinau because Tiraspol is in the Transnistria region, which declared its independence from Moldova in 1992 but is only recognized by Russia. The European association UEFA is currently banning matches in Transnistria due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Tekpetey’s hit for Razgrad not enough
Dinamo Zagreb also landed a 2-1 away win. The Croatians won at Ludogorets Razgrad. Bernard Tekpetey, who played for FC Schalke, SC Paderborn and Fortuna Düsseldorf, scored for the Bulgarians. It meant the final score in the 22nd minute.
On Wednesday (08/03/2022) there are five more first legs of the third round. The return legs will all be played on August 9, as the European Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt is scheduled for a day later in Helsinki.