BRITISH CLUBS GET TOUGH EURO DRAW

BBC 03 August 2007
Liverpool face a tough tie in the third qualifying round of the Champions League as they have to overcome Toulouse to book a group stage spot.

Arsenal have been drawn against Sparta Prague over the two legs. Scottish champions Celtic have a tricky match against Spartak Moscow.

Rangers hold a 2-0 first-leg lead over FK Zeta in their second qualifying round tie and, if they win, will play Crvena Zvezda or Levadia Tallinn.

The winners will go through to the group stages, when English duo Manchester United and Chelsea will enter the tournament.

Crvena Zvezda, formerly known as Red Star Belgrade, hold a 1-0 lead over Estonian side Levadia Tallinn after the first leg in Serbia.

If Rangers come through their second leg game against Zeta next Tuesday they will travel away from home for the first leg.

Celtic's opponents Spartak Moscow play on an artificial pitch and are midway through their domestic season.

Arsenal were one of the last teams out of the draw and will face a team with plenty of Champions League experience in Sparta Prague.

Club spokesman David Miles said: "We have played them four times in six years and so we're very much looking to visiting Prague again.

"It could have been worse and we have a good working relationship with them.

"But we won't take anything for granted. It is very important for the club both financially and for our supporters to play in the group stages."

Liverpool, who lost out in the final of the competition last season, face a trip into the unknown when they take on French club Toulouse.

Club secretary Bryce Morrison said: "It will not be easy. This qualifying round of the competition seems to be getting harder each year.

"The French league is strong. They are a rugby town and it is a new ground for us. They will be really up for it.

"Rafael Benitez has brought in some new players and everyone in the club feels we are stronger and there is no reason why we can't go all the way again."

The lucrative group stages of the competition run from 18 September to 12 December and the final will be played in Moscow on 21 May 2008.