Tonight marked the start of the qualifiers for the new season of the UEFA Champions League, even though the current champions Paris Saint-Germain are still competing in the FIFA Club World Cup. The first round kicked off with matches between Finland’s KuPS and Moldova’s Milsami, where the home team won 1-0. Podgorica’s Budućnost lost by the same scoreline to Armenia’s Noah, while Malmö triumphed away against Georgia’s Iberia with a 3-1 victory. Olimpija Ljubljana drew 1-1 at home against Kazakhstan’s Kairat, and Latvia’s RFS defeated Estonia’s Levadia 1-0.
In the second round of qualifiers, set to begin soon, Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade will face the winner of the clash between Vikingur from the Faroe Islands and Lincoln from Gibraltar. Also competing in the second round are Salzburg, Rangers, Dynamo Kyiv, and Viktoria Plzeň. Salzburg recently played in the FIFA Club World Cup on June 26.
Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning Champions League winners, have not yet finished their season, having triumphed just over five weeks ago with a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final. They are now set to play Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals in New Jersey. Among the 29 teams directly qualified for the group stage is Luis Enrique’s squad. A total of seven teams will advance through qualifiers to join the group stage, which kicks off in September.
These qualifiers are pure football madness! Who will make it through, and who will crash out early? Red Star faces a tough challenge, while Salzburg and Rangers are ready to show their teeth. And PSG? They haven’t even finished last season yet and are already gearing up for new battles. Think football is just a game? Think again — it’s a fight for prestige, money, and glory!
What about you? Who’s your pick? Will the Serbian champions break through, or will a smaller club shock us all? Drop a comment, share your predictions, or just cheer loudly — football is here to unite us all, and maybe annoy us a little too!
