in update

An inaugural victory with Reading still in England, a triumph with the contours of a thrashing against Nice at the start of the Algarve Trophy, a more serious thrashing against Fulham that earned them the conquest of the competition played in the south of the country. The first signs of the new era of Roger Schmidt at Benfica were very positive and with a clear idea of ​​preparing a base in the team to achieve the first goal of the season – Entry into the group stage of the Champions League. And this Monday there would be news on that path with the rival’s tie in the third round.

Rafa found a David that helps him become Goliath (the Benfica-Fulham chronicle that decided the Algarve Trophy)

The Reds started as top seeds and only had four chances ahead, with Gelson Martins’ French Monaco emerging as the biggest name among the possibilities where the Austrians from Sturm Graz, the Belgians from Saint-Gilloise (who last week had a friendly against Sporting that ended in a draw) and the winner of the tie between the Cypriots AEK Larnaca and the Danes Midtjylland. And it was this last chance to get out.

• Monaco-PSV
• Dynamo kyiv or Fenerbahce-Sturm Graz
• Saint-Gilloise-Rangers
• Benfica-Midtjylland or AEK Larnaca

To remember that the Champions League third qualifying round it will be played on August 2/3 and 9, with the first round of the Championship (Arouca na Luz) in between. the draw of play off will be played on the eve of the first leg, on August 1, with Benfica facing the winner of the match from PSV (which could lead to a reunion between Schmidt and the old team) or the winner of the match between whoever qualifies against Dinamo kyiv and Fenerbahçe… now Jorge Jesús.

Parallel to the raffled matches of the Caminho das Ligas, the raffle of the road of champions already with teams like the Greek Olympiacos, champion directed by Pedro Martins.

• Maccabi Haifa or Olympiakos-Apollon Limassol
• Qarabag or Zurich-Ferencvaros or Slavia Bratislava
• Ludogorets or Shamrock Rovers-Dinamo Zagreb or Shkupi
• Maribor or Sheriff-HJK or Viktoria Plzen
• Linfield or Bodo Glimt-Zalgiris or Malmö
• Red Star-Pyunik or Dudelange

route of leagues

• Heads of series: Benfica, Rangers, Dynamo kyiv or Fenerbahçe and PSV
• Without serial heads: Monaco, Midtjylland or AEK Larnaca, Sturm Graz and Saint-Gilloise

road of champions

• Serial Heads Group 1: Dinamo Zagreb or Shkupi, Maccabi Haifa or Olympiacos and Qarabag or Zurich
• Without group 1 serial heads: Ludogorets or Shamrock Rovers, Ferencvaros or Slavia Bratislava and Apollon Limassol
• Series Heads Group 2: Red Star, HJK or Viktoria Plzen and Zalgiris or Malmö
• Without group 2 serial heads: Maribor or Sheriff, Linfield or Bodo Glimt and Pyunik or Dudelange