Sparta Prague vs. Copenhagen (Tuesday, 6.00pm)
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Having come away from the Danish capital with a creditable 0-0 draw to their name, Sparta Prague host Copenhagen at Stadion Letna on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League third-round qualifying battle.
There was no way through for either side when they met on Scandinavian soil last week, leaving Sparta in with a terrific shout of ending their recent third-round hoodoo ahead of a possible playoff tie with Aris Limassol or Rakow Czestochowa.
We say: Sparta Prague 1-1 Copenhagen (a.e.t, Sparta to win on penalties)
Sparta's dogged defensive display in the first leg was all well and good, but the Czech champions will likely have to show more attacking intent if they are to keep their European dream alive, which could leave them susceptible to a goal-happy Copenhagen.
While we feel that there will be a couple of goals in this contest, it is still too difficult to pick an outright winner, but with the Prague crowd behind them, Sparta can progress from 12 yards to move one step closer to the group phase.
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Molde vs. KI (Tuesday, 6.00pm)
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Molde seek to progress to the Champions League playoff round when they host KI Klaksvik at Aker Stadion on Tuesday.
The Norwegian side have to turn around a 2-1 deficit from last week's result in the Faroe Islands to avoid making it through the third qualifying round.
We say: Molde 3-1 KI Klaksvik (Molde win 4-3 on aggregate)
Molde have won nine straight home games in all competitions since May, keeping six clean sheets in the ongoing run, and they should secure another victory on Tuesday to end KI's inspiring Champions League journey.
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Maccabi Haifa vs. Slovan Bratislava (Tuesday, 6.00pm)
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Maccabi Haifa are in the driver's seat before hosting Slovan Bratislava in Tuesday's Champions League third qualifying round at the Sammy Ofer Stadium.
The Greens secured a commendable 2-1 triumph in last week's encounter in Slovakia and hope to prevent any Bratislava fightback in the reverse fixture.
We say: Maccabi Haifa 2-1 Slovan Bratislava (Maccabi win 4-2 on aggregate)
Another home win for Maccabi should see them secure progress to the playoff round at Slovan's expense, with the away side unable to repeat previous road victories in Israel.
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Aris Limassol vs. Rakow (Tuesday, 6.00pm)
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Battling it out for a place in the Champions League playoffs, Aris Limassol and Rakow Czestochowa meet for the second leg of their third qualifying round tie on Tuesday.
Polish champions Rakow lead 2-1 following last week's first leg, and the winner will go on to face either Copenhagen or Sparta Prague in the final stage before the hallowed group phase.
We say: Aris Limassol 1-1 Rakow Czestochowa (Rakow win 3-2 on aggregate)
Though Aris should have most of the ball - as they did last week in Poland - Rakow were by far the best defensive team in Poland last season and are capable of keeping them in check. It is set to be a tense, close-fought affair, with little to choose between the two teams, but it will be the away side who ultimately progress.
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Dinamo Zagreb vs. AEK Athens (Tuesday, 7.00pm)
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AEK Athens travel to Dinamo Zagreb for Tuesday's Champions League third qualifying round first-leg encounter at Maksimir Stadium.
The first fixture should have been played on August 8 in Greece but was postponed after an AEK fan was killed in a brawl.
We say: Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 AEK Athens
While Dinamo's four-game run without conceding could end on Tuesday, the Croatian outfit should defeat AEK comfortably in Zagreb to put themselves in the driver's seat after the first leg.
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Backa Topola vs. Braga (Tuesday, 7.00pm)
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Needing to pull off the comeback of all comebacks to keep their Champions League dream alive, Backa Topola welcome Braga to the TSC Arena for the second leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier on Tuesday.
The Portuguese giants strolled to a 3-0 win on home turf last week and will progress to the final hurdle barring a catastrophic collapse on Serbian soil.
We say: Backa Topola 0-2 Braga (Braga win 5-0 on aggregate)
Even with a few alterations anticipated on Braga's end, the Portuguese powerhouses proved too strong for Backa Topola in the first leg, which should again be the case at the TSC Arena.
The margin of victory may not be as emphatic some 1,800 miles away from home, but Jorge's rejigged side should have no problem notching another couple of goals en route to the playoff round.
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Galatasaray vs. Ljubljana (Tuesday, 7.00pm)
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With one foot already in the Champions League playoffs, Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray aim to finish the job against third qualifying round opponents NK Olimpija Ljubljana on Tuesday.
Taking a three-goal lead back home following the first leg in Slovenia, Gala are just 90 minutes away from a tie against either KI Klaksvik or Molde, which would lead on to the group stage.
We say: Galatasaray 2-0 NK Olimpija Ljubljana (Galatasaray win 5-0 on aggregate)
Such is the depth of an expensively assembled squad, Galatasaray can even afford to rotate their resources on Tuesday and still progress comfortably. Olimpija cannot compete with their hosts' impressive firepower, so will have to settle for a place in the Europa League playoffs as Gala march on.
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Servette vs. Rangers (Tuesday, 7.30pm)
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Seeking to maintain or increase a narrow one-goal lead from their opening affair, Rangers travel to Geneva to meet Swiss giants Servette in the second leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier on Tuesday night.
Michael Beale's side edged a close encounter 2-1 at Ibrox last week, and the victor of this tie will square off with PSV Eindhoven or Sturm Graz for a place in the group phase.
We say: Servette 1-2 Rangers (Rangers win 4-2 on aggregate)
Servette are quickly establishing a reputation as Switzerland's draw specialists, but a stalemate will not suffice for the hosts if they are to prolong their continental adventure, and Beale's depleted backline should prepare for a wave of Grenats attacks.
Injuries on Servette's end will not help their cause either, though, and with Rangers reigniting their golden touch against Livingston, we can envisage an identical scoreline to the first leg as the Scottish giants book a playoff date with PSV or Sturm Graz.
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Sturm Graz vs. PSV (Tuesday, 7.30pm)
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One week on from running out comfortable 4-1 winners on their own patch, PSV Eindhoven look to complete the job when they face Austrian side Sturm Graz in their Champions League third-round qualifying second-leg affair on Tuesday.
Peter Bosz's side taught their upcoming hosts a footballing lesson when the two sides squared off at the Philips Stadion, and only a midweek horror show would deny them a place in the playoff rounds now.
We say: Sturm Graz 0-2 PSV Eindhoven (PSV win 6-1 on aggregate)
In an identical scenario to the 2021-22 Europa League group stage, PSV could very well follow up a 4-1 thrashing of Sturm Graz with a more lowkey two-goal success to ensure a straightforward route into the playoff round.
Bosz may be tempted to tinker with his lineup, potentially giving the hosts a glimmer of hope, but the Dutch Super Cup winners should have an array of talent in reserve waiting to make an impact should things go pear-shaped.
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Marseille vs. Panathinaikos (Tuesday, 8.00pm)
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Marseille will be aiming to overturn a narrow deficit when they host Panathinaikos in the second leg of their third qualifying round contest in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Panathinaikos will bring an advantage into the second leg of the clash, having recorded a 1-0 victory in Greece last week, with Bernard coming off the bench to win it late for Ivan Jovanovic's side.
We say: Marseille 2-0 Panathinaikos (Marseille win 2-1 on aggregate)
Marseille will fancy their chances of turning this tie around on home soil, and it is set to be a fascinating contest on Tuesday night. Panathinaikos deserve a lot of respect, but the French outfit have enough quality to overcome the one-goal deficit in order to progress to the playoff round.
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Barney Corkhill
