Plzeň and Karabakh ended goalless, but goals were scored in the other matches of the 4th Champions League preliminary round on Wednesday

The opening duels of the Champions League playoffs are over. Tuesday’s schedule featured a 2-2 draw between Rangers and PSV, a 2-1 win for Copenhagen over Trabzonspor and a 1-0 win for Bodø/Glimt against Dinamo Zagreb. On Wednesday, the remaining three matches were played. How have the other teams positioned themselves for next week’s rematches?

FK Karabakh – FC Viktoria Plzen 0::0

Fans of Czech football were most interested in Plzeň’s match on Karabakh’s soil, but they did not see a goal. Viktoria goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk had a big part in the goalless draw thanks to his saves. Michal Bílek’s charges still have a good chance to qualify for the most prestigious club competition before the sold-out match in Štruncové sady.

FC Dynamo Kyiv – Benfica Lisbon 0::2

On the other hand, the crowd in Lodz, where Dynamo Kiev currently play their home games, saw the goal early. Gilberto sent the visiting Benfica into the lead in the 9th minute after a corner kick, but goalkeeper Buscjan was unable to keep his shot out.

After a big mistake in Dynamo’s midfield, the visitors were able to take the lead in the 37th minute with a successful attempt from Gonçalo Ramos. Despite some chances on both sides, no further goals were scored, so the Ukrainian side will have to close the two-goal gap in the rematch.

Maccabi Haifa FC – FK Crvena zvezda Belgrade 3::2

The opening of the score came relatively quickly in Israel. Home player Haziza sent a pass into the small area, Belgrade goalkeeper Borjan couldn’t collect the ball and Frantzdy Pierrot got to it. He finally scored in the 18th minute after a turn.

27. but the next minute brought the equaliser. A shot from outside the penalty area by Aleksandar Pesic was headed by a Maccabi Haifa player out of the reach of goalkeeper Cohen and between the three posts.

In the 39th minute, Guélor Kanga turned the game around to 1:2, receiving a pass after a run on the edge of the hexagon and scoring with a successful shot from the first.

Six minutes after the change of sides, Haifa levelled the score at 2:2 when Haziz’s centre was met by Pierrot’s header and he scored for the second time in the match. After another ten minutes, the home side were in the lead. Dolev Haziza also scored the third goal, assisted by Tjaronn Chery’s accurate shot from the large white space to the bar.

The opening match between Maccabi Haifa and Crvena Zvezda in the 4th preliminary round of the Champions League also ended 3-2, so the rematch in the battle for qualification to the preliminary group of the famous competition promises to be even more interesting.

Source: UEFA