Champions League playoffs

The last round of qualifying games for the Champions League kicked off on Tuesday. In perhaps the highest-profile meeting of the evening, PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan drew 1-1 in the Netherlands. Italian international Stephan el-Sharaawy (pictured above, in middle) opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Tim Matavz equalized for PSV an hour into the match. The teams will return to the San Siro in Milan with everything to play for.

In Kazakhstan, Shakhter Karagandy were entering uncharted Champions League territory. The hosts shocked Glasgow Celtic, winning 2-0. Karagandy scored one in either half, leaving the Scottish champions with a major deficit to overturn on home turf in the second leg.

Real Sociedad took a firm grip on their tie with French side Olympique Lyonnais. Two spectacular goals, the first an acrobatic left-footed scissor kick from Antoine Griezmann, secured Real a 2-0 win in Lyon. The Spanish side was more clinical in front of goal in an otherwise even game and takes a two-goal cushion back to the Basque Country.

Zenit St. Petersburg steamrolled Pacos de Ferreira 4-1 on Tuesday, courtesy of a hat trick from striker Roman Shirokov. In the fifth and final game of the evening, Viktoria Plzen beat visitors NK Maribor 3-1 in the first leg in Pilsen.

The return legs of all five fixtures will be played next Wednesday, August 28.

This Wednesday, the last round of qualification for the premiere continental competition continues. Bundesliga side Schalke, fresh from a humbling defeat to Wolfsburg at the weekend, will host PAOK Thessaloniki in Gelsenkirchen.

msh/jm (AFP, dpa, Reuters)