Champions League: the Czech coefficient celebrates, four rivals lost. On the other hand, Slovan sensationally turned the match around

On Tuesday and Wednesday the first matches of the second preliminary round of the Champions League were played. Viktoria Plzeň beat Helsinki and helped the Czech coefficient, while the four rivals in the fight for the TOP 15, the Danes, the Swiss, the Norwegians and the Croatians, reported losses.

The Hungarian-Slovak derby ended in a surprise. Favoured Ferencváros led at home against Slovan Bratislava from the 70th minute, but the Slovakian champion turned the tide with goals in the 81st and 86th minutes and just needs to stay undefeated at home.

After the win in Helsinki, Plzen is close to advancing to the next round, where it would face the winner of Maribor vs. Sherif Tiraspol. The first game in Slovenia didn’t give much of a hint, it ended goalless and will be decided in Moldova.

Slovácko, on the other hand, is keeping a close eye on the Dynamo Kyiv vs. Fenerbahçe Istanbul double-header, with the winner of the MOL Cup playing the loser of the pair. No goal fell in Kiev either and the Ukrainian vice-champion can look forward to a stormy Turkish environment next week.

While Filip Novak did not play for Fenerbahçe, another Czech international, Tomas Vaclik, played the entire match against Maccabi Haifa for Olympiakos. The Greek favourite only drew 1:1, which plays into the hands of the Czech coefficient.

The very surprising loss of Bodo/Glimt to Northern Ireland’s Linfield 0:1, Midtjylland’s draw with Larnaca (1:1), Zurich’s loss to Karabakh 2:3 or Dinamo Zagreb’s draw with Macedonia’s Skhupi (2:2) are also suitable.

The full results are available on the UEFA website, with the rematch scheduled for next week.

Source: UEFA