The third qualifying round ended with drama as the likes of Monaco, Ajax, Celtic and København booked play-off spots but Olympiacos, Anderlecht and Shakhtar Donetsk fell
- LEAGUE ROUTE
Monaco 3-1 Fenerbahçe (agg: 4-3)
Monaco overhauled a 2-1 third qualifying round first-leg deficit to keep alive their chances of another group campaign. Fabinho and Radamel Falcao combined to set up Valère Germain's second-minute opener, his first goal in Europe. Falcao then converted a penalty after Nabil Dirar was fouled but Fenerbahçe levelled the aggregate score early in the second half when Emmanuel Emenike turned in Gregory van der Wiel's cross for his third goal of the tie. However, Germain struck again with 25 minutes left as Monaco progressed.
Monaco overhauled a 2-1 third qualifying round first-leg deficit to keep alive their chances of another group campaign. Fabinho and Radamel Falcao combined to set up Valère Germain's second-minute opener, his first goal in Europe. Falcao then converted a penalty after Nabil Dirar was fouled but Fenerbahçe levelled the aggregate score early in the second half when Emmanuel Emenike turned in Gregory van der Wiel's cross for his third goal of the tie. However, Germain struck again with 25 minutes left as Monaco progressed.
Young Boys 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (aet, agg: 2-2, YB win 4-2 on pens)
Young Boys completed a superb comeback to eliminate a Shakhtar team that had reached the group stage six years in a row. Shakhar won the first leg 2-0 but goals by Yuya Kubo on 54 and 60 minutes drew the Swiss side level. Penalties were needed and after Fred was denied by Yvon Mvogo and Yaroslav Rakitskiy hit the woodwork, Milan Gajić converted the decisvie kick. Shakhtar will now aim to at least match their UEFA Europa League semi-final run of last term.
Young Boys completed a superb comeback to eliminate a Shakhtar team that had reached the group stage six years in a row. Shakhar won the first leg 2-0 but goals by Yuya Kubo on 54 and 60 minutes drew the Swiss side level. Penalties were needed and after Fred was denied by Yvon Mvogo and Yaroslav Rakitskiy hit the woodwork, Milan Gajić converted the decisvie kick. Shakhtar will now aim to at least match their UEFA Europa League semi-final run of last term.
PAOK 1-2 Ajax (agg: 2-3)
Four-time champions Ajax are through, but Greece's hopes in the competition over, after Davy Klaassen claimed his second goal of the night from the edge of the area with two minutes left. The skipper had previously equalised with a penalty just before half-time; Stefanos Athanasiadis had shot PAOK into an early lead after catching the visitors napping. Ajax will now seek to avoid a repeat of their play-off loss to Rapid Wien last season.
Four-time champions Ajax are through, but Greece's hopes in the competition over, after Davy Klaassen claimed his second goal of the night from the edge of the area with two minutes left. The skipper had previously equalised with a penalty just before half-time; Stefanos Athanasiadis had shot PAOK into an early lead after catching the visitors napping. Ajax will now seek to avoid a repeat of their play-off loss to Rapid Wien last season.
Anderlecht 0-2 Rostov (agg: 2-4)
Rostov enjoyed a dream first away day in the UEFA Champions League to win a tie for the first time in a major European competition. Christian Noboa's brilliant low long-range drive put Rostov in front on 28 minutes and early in the second half Sardar Azmoun netted to end Anderlecht's hopes, which had seemed high when they twice led the first leg in Russia.
Rostov enjoyed a dream first away day in the UEFA Champions League to win a tie for the first time in a major European competition. Christian Noboa's brilliant low long-range drive put Rostov in front on 28 minutes and early in the second half Sardar Azmoun netted to end Anderlecht's hopes, which had seemed high when they twice led the first leg in Russia.
Steaua Bucureşti 2-0 Sparta Praha (agg: 3-1)
Steaua ensured there would not be a second straight exit in this round and took the aggregate initiative on 31 minutes through Nicolae Stanciu's superb volley from 25 metres. There was nearly another soon after when Gabriel Tamaș rattled the bar with a free-kick from inside his own half after spotting David Bičík off his line. Sparta lost Jakub Brabec to a red card early in the second half and Steaua did have a second goal when Stanciu struck from just outside the box.
Steaua ensured there would not be a second straight exit in this round and took the aggregate initiative on 31 minutes through Nicolae Stanciu's superb volley from 25 metres. There was nearly another soon after when Gabriel Tamaș rattled the bar with a free-kick from inside his own half after spotting David Bičík off his line. Sparta lost Jakub Brabec to a red card early in the second half and Steaua did have a second goal when Stanciu struck from just outside the box.
Also in play-offs: Manchester City (ENG), Porto (POR), Villarreal (ESP), Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER), Roma (ITA)
- CHAMPIONS ROUTE
- Hapoel Beer-Sheva 1-0 Olympiacos (agg: 1-0)
- Olympiacos will be absent from the group stage for the first time since 2010/11 after debutants Beer-Sheva triumphed with a late goal from Shir Tzedek, his maiden strike in Europe. Olympiacos had received a bye to the group stage every season since 2011/12 but Greece's falling coefficient removed that privilege and they transfer to the UEFA Europa League, in which they have played in the round of 32 for the last two years.
Celtic 2-1 Astana (agg: 3-2)
The game seemed to be heading for added time when substitute Moussa Dembélé was brought down by Igor Shitov, who was sent off, and the striker made no mistake from the spot. Celtic had gone ahead on the stroke of half-time, also through a penalty by Leigh Griffiths, but Astana equalised just past the hour when Agim Ibraimi scored from virtually the halfway line following Craig Gordon's headed clearance.
The game seemed to be heading for added time when substitute Moussa Dembélé was brought down by Igor Shitov, who was sent off, and the striker made no mistake from the spot. Celtic had gone ahead on the stroke of half-time, also through a penalty by Leigh Griffiths, but Astana equalised just past the hour when Agim Ibraimi scored from virtually the halfway line following Craig Gordon's headed clearance.
FC København 3-0 Astra Giurgiu (agg: 4-1)
Three first-half goals ensured progress for the Danish champions. Andreas Cornelius, who struck three in the previous round against Crusaders, is now the competition's joint-top marksman after nodding two more either side of a Federico Santander effort as FCK bid to end a two-year absence from the group stage.
Three first-half goals ensured progress for the Danish champions. Andreas Cornelius, who struck three in the previous round against Crusaders, is now the competition's joint-top marksman after nodding two more either side of a Federico Santander effort as FCK bid to end a two-year absence from the group stage.
Salzburg 2-0 Partizani (agg: 3-0)
Jonathan Soriano and Wanderson registered in the last 15 minutes to take Salzburg to within one tie of ending their 22-year group stage exile. Partizani, meanwhile, will look to emulate Skënderbeu, who became the first Albanian club to play in the UEFA Europa League group stage last term.
Jonathan Soriano and Wanderson registered in the last 15 minutes to take Salzburg to within one tie of ending their 22-year group stage exile. Partizani, meanwhile, will look to emulate Skënderbeu, who became the first Albanian club to play in the UEFA Europa League group stage last term.
Legia Warszawa 1-0 Trenčín (agg: 1-0)
Legia made the most of the advantage they carved out in Slovakia last week, after a second leg which either side could have won with opportunities at both ends. Legia last featured in the group stage in 1995/96.
Legia made the most of the advantage they carved out in Slovakia last week, after a second leg which either side could have won with opportunities at both ends. Legia last featured in the group stage in 1995/96.
Also in play-offs: Viktoria Plzeň (CZE), APOEL (CYP), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL), Dundalk (IRL)
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