Banque Misr posts EGP 68.35bn in net profits during M9 2025    Nuclear shields and new recruits: France braces for a Europe without Washington    Cairo conducts intensive contacts to halt Yemen fighting as government forces seize key port    US military hits Caracas as Trump says President Maduro taken into custody    TMG to launch post-AI project and begin Noor city deliveries in 2026    Gold prices in Egypt end 2025's final session lower    From Niche to National Asset: Inside the Egyptian Golf Federation's Institutional Rebirth    Egyptian pound edges lower against dollar in Wednesday's early trade    Oil to end 2025 with sharp losses    5th-century BC industrial hub, Roman burials discovered in Egypt's West Delta    Egyptian-Italian team uncovers ancient workshops, Roman cemetery in Western Nile Delta    Egypt to cover private healthcare costs under universal insurance scheme, says PM at New Giza University Hospital opening    Qatari Diar pays Egypt $3.5bn initial installment for $29.7bn Alam El Roum investment deal    Egypt to launch 2026-2030 national strategy for 11m people with disabilities    Health Ministry, Veterinarians' Syndicate discuss training, law amendments, veterinary drugs    Egypt completes restoration of 43 historical agreements, 13 maps for Foreign Ministry archive    Egypt, Viatris sign MoU to expand presidential mental health initiative    Egypt sends medical convoy, supplies to Sudan to support healthcare sector    Egypt's PM reviews rollout of second phase of universal health insurance scheme    Egypt sends 15th urgent aid convoy to Gaza in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services    Al-Sisi: Egypt seeks binding Nile agreement with Ethiopia    Egyptian-built dam in Tanzania is model for Nile cooperation, says Foreign Minister    Al-Sisi affirms support for Sudan's sovereignty and calls for accountability over conflict crimes    Egypt flags red lines, urges Sudan unity, civilian protection    Egypt unveils restored colossal statues of King Amenhotep III at Luxor mortuary temple    Egyptian Golf Federation appoints Stuart Clayton as technical director    4th Egyptian Women Summit kicks off with focus on STEM, AI    UNESCO adds Egyptian Koshari to intangible cultural heritage list    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tough Champions League playoff draw adds to Malaga's woes
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 10 - 08 - 2012

Troubled Malaga will have to beat Champions League regulars Panathinaikos if they are to reach the group stage for the first time following Friday's playoff round draw at UEFA headquarters, adding to the Spanish side's pre-season headaches.
Borussia Moenchengladbach, also hoping to qualify for the first time, have been paired with Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev, who have reached the semi-finals three times. The first legs take place on Aug 21/22 with the returns a week later. Italy's Udinese, beaten by Arsenal at the same stage last season, will face Braga of Portugal.
Defeat would leave Italy with only two teams in the group stage. Malaga finished fourth in La Liga last season but their outlook is uncertain after they announced "internal restructuring" amid reports that Qatari owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani wants to sell up after only two years.
In the last week, midfielder Santi Cazorla has joined Arsenal while Venezuela forward Salomon Rondon has moved to Russia's Rubin Kazan.
Their Greek opponents will be attempting to reach the group stage for the 10th time. In other ties, Spartak Moscow will face Fenerbahce, who were excluded from the competition last season over a Turkish match-fixing scandal, and Lille will meet FC Copenhagen.
Cypriot champions AEL Limassol, hoping to emulate compatriots APOEL Nicosia who reached the quarter-finals last season, must first beat Belgian champions Anderlecht. Celtic, the only former European champions among the teams in Friday's draw, were pitted against Swedish champions Helsingborg.
There is no English side in the playoffs because Chelsea won the Champions League last term and therefore go straight into the group stage despite having finished outside the Premier League's top four.
Draw: Basel (Switzerland) v CFR Cluj (Romania) Helsingborgs (Sweden) v Celtic (Scotland) BATE Borisov (Belarus) v Hapoel Kiryat Shmona (Israel) Limassol (Cyprus) v Anderlecht (Belgium) Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) v Maribor (Slovenia) Braga (Portugal) v Udinese (Italy) Spartak Moscow (Russia) v Fenerbahce (Turkey) Malaga (Spain) v Panathinaikos (Greece) Borussia Moenchengladbach (Germany) v Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine) Lille (France) v FC Copenhagen (Denmark).
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)

Clic here to read the story from its source.