Ten second-leg matches were played in the third qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday. While SK Sturm Graz bowed out after suffering two defeats against Fenerbahçe, Olympique Lyon responded emphatically to their 2-1 first-leg loss in Prague. Two ties required extra time. The four teams eliminated from the league path – including Sturm and Union Saint-Gilloise – are at least guaranteed a place in the Europa League league phase.
Lyon turn the tie around against Sparta Prague
Olympique Lyon were under pressure after their surprise 2-1 first-leg defeat but produced the required response at the Groupama Stadium. Paulo Fonseca’s side won 3-0 to progress 4-2 on aggregate.
The French side took the lead after just 20 minutes through Ernest Nuamah. Sparta’s hopes of progressing suffered a major blow before half-time when Adam Ševinský was sent off for a foul on Loïs Openda. Lyon took control with the numerical advantage and made the result safe after the break. Ainsley Maitland-Niles made it 2-0 in the 66th minute before Tyler Morton added a third six minutes later.
Lyon will now face Fenerbahçe in the play-offs. The Turkish side advanced with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Sturm Graz.
Bodø/Glimt come through another thriller
The second leg between Bodø/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise was even more dramatic. Their first meeting in Oostende had already finished 3-3 and another open, eventful contest followed at the Aspmyra Stadion. Bodø/Glimt eventually won 3-2 after extra time to advance 6-5 on aggregate.
After a goalless first half, Ole Didrik Blomberg put the Norwegian side ahead with a long-range effort in the 51st minute. Saint-Gilloise responded quickly, Guilherme Smith equalising ten minutes later. Jens Petter Hauge restored Bodø/Glimt’s lead in the 76th minute, but former Sturm Graz forward Mohammed Fuseini struck in the 88th minute to force extra time.
Just before extra time began, Saint-Gilloise suffered a major setback. Kamiel Van de Perre, who had already been booked in the 81st minute, received a second yellow card in stoppage time for a heavy challenge. The decision caused considerable frustration among the Belgian side. Coach David Hubert criticised the refereeing after the match, while Rob Schoofs said he could not understand the second booking in particular. Saint-Gilloise were therefore forced to play the entire 30 minutes of extra time with ten men.
For a long time, a penalty shootout still appeared likely. Saint-Gilloise goalkeeper Vic Chambaere repeatedly prevented Bodø/Glimt from scoring a third before a bizarre incident finally settled the tie in the 117th minute. Odin Bjørtuft’s header was initially cleared off the line, but the ball then struck Andreas Helmersen and ended up in the net for 3-2.
Florucz sent off after the final whistle
For Austrian Raul Florucz, the evening took a particularly unusual turn. The two-goal hero from the first leg spent almost the entire 120 minutes on the bench and was only introduced in stoppage time at the end of extra time.
The situation then escalated after the final whistle. A larger confrontation broke out between players from both teams in the centre circle. Florucz and Adem Zorgane became involved with Bodø/Glimt players and were both shown red cards after the match had ended.
Saint-Gilloise therefore finished the evening with three dismissals: Van de Perre had already been sent off for two bookings before extra time, with Florucz and Zorgane following after the final whistle. Their Champions League campaign is over, although they are guaranteed a place in the Europa League league phase. Bodø/Glimt will face NEC Nijmegen in the play-offs.
NEC knock out Olympiakos after extra time
The tie between NEC Nijmegen and Olympiakos also required an additional 30 minutes. After a goalless first leg, the Greek side struck first in the return fixture. Ayoub El Kaabi scored just seconds after the restart to put Olympiakos 1-0 ahead. Bryan Linssen equalised in the 70th minute.
Ten minutes later, Konstantinos Fortounis was sent off following a VAR review. NEC thought they had found the winner in stoppage time, but Kaj Sierhuis’ goal was disallowed for offside. Emre Mor eventually made the difference in extra time. The Turkish winger, who had been introduced early for the injured Sami Ouaissa, scored in the 95th minute to give NEC a 2-1 victory and send them into a play-off against Bodø/Glimt.
Red Star eliminated as Arnautović comes on at half-time
There was another major surprise in Belgrade. Red Star had already lost the first leg against Hapoel Be’er Sheva 1-0 and were beaten 2-0 at home in the return fixture. The Israeli club therefore progressed with a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 aggregate victory.
Marko Arnautović started on the bench before being introduced after half-time. Austria’s record international was unable to turn the game in Red Star’s favour. Head coach Dejan Stanković was first sent to the stands in the 57th minute before Igor Zlatanović gave Hapoel the lead four minutes later. Javon East made it 2-0 in the 79th minute. Mohammad Abu Fani was also shown a straight red card for violent conduct in stoppage time. A crowd of 40,833 witnessed a deeply disappointing European night for the Serbian champions.
Red Star’s European campaign is not over, however. As a losing side from the champions path, they drop into the Europa League play-offs. Hapoel Be’er Sheva will face Sabah in the Champions League play-offs.
Sturm also lose the second leg
SK Sturm Graz’s Champions League qualifying campaign also came to an end on Tuesday night. After losing 2-0 in Istanbul, the Austrian side suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Fenerbahçe and were eliminated 3-0 on aggregate.
Sturm are now guaranteed a place in the Europa League league phase, while Fenerbahçe will face Lyon for a spot in the Champions League.
Dinamo cruise through as Celje overturn deficit
Six more ties were decided in the champions path. Dinamo Zagreb were never seriously threatened after their 5-0 first-leg victory over Kauno Žalgiris, winning the return fixture 2-1 to complete a 7-1 aggregate success. Slovan Bratislava beat Mjällby 2-0 and progressed 4-1 on aggregate.
Celje, meanwhile, overturned their tie against Ararat-Armenia. After losing the first leg 2-1, the Slovenian side won 2-0 at home to advance 3-2 on aggregate. Levski Sofia followed up their 1-0 first-leg win with another 1-0 victory away to Kairat Almaty. Sabah produced the biggest turnaround of the night: after losing 2-1 away to Danish side Aarhus, the Azerbaijani club responded with an emphatic 4-0 home victory.
The Champions League play-offs will therefore feature Fenerbahçe against Lyon, NEC Nijmegen against Bodø/Glimt, Celtic FC against LASK, Dinamo Zagreb against Viking, Slovan Bratislava against Celje, Hapoel Be’er Sheva against Sabah and Levski Sofia against AEK Athens. The winners of those ties will qualify for the Champions League league phase.
