Aris Limassol thrashed BATE Borisov 6-2 to put one foot in the third round of Champions League qualifying, while Rakow Czestochowa beat Qarabag 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner.
European football’s domestic leagues may be largely in hibernation as they await the new season, but fierce battles are already being fought for a place in the 2023/24 Champions League group stage.
BATE of Belarus, who last graced the groups in 2015/16, had a night to forget as they were hammered by Cypriot champions Aris.
The Limassol side, who lifted their first league crown last season, were 3-0 up by half-time thanks to goals from Yannick Gomis, Leo Bengtsson and a Sidi Bane own goal.
Artem Kontsevoy and Ruslan Khadarkevich struck either side of Gomis’ second in the second half to reduce the deficit to two goals.
But Aris completed the rout – and took complete control of the two-legged tie – as Jaden Montnor and Maruisz Stepinski added to the Belarusians’ woes with late goals.
The winner of that tie – likely the Cypriots barring a complete collapse – will face either Rakow Czestochowa or Qarabag.
Those sides played out a thriller in Poland that hangs in the balance going into the second leg.
After a goalless first half, the action exploded when Elvin Jafarquliyev’s own goal and a Fabian Piasecki strike put the Poles 2-0 up.
But the visitors mustered a superb response as almost immediately Redon Xhixha netted twice in three minutes to level the tie – only for Sonny Kittel to win it in the 91st minute for Rakow.
Moldovans Sheriff Tiraspol, who stunned Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 2021, beat Maccabi Haifi 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Amine Talal.
There was less excitement in store in the Faroe Islands, where Klaksvik and Swedish side Hacken played out a 0-0 draw.
In Bulgaria, Ludogorets Razgrad were held to a 1-1 draw by Olimpija Ljubljana, with Timi Elsnik putting the visitors ahead early before Dominik Yankov levelled on the brink of half-time.
The second legs will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, August 1 and 2.
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