Play-off round in sight - UEFA Champions League Qualifiers R3 14 August 2024

13 August 2024

The UEFA Super Cup on 14 August means that all Champions League qualifiers will take place on 13 August this week. With a maximum of two goals between sides, the majority of the draws is still wide open. In Ludogorets Razgrad and Bodø/Glimt, two sides have a first-leg advantage to defend at home. On the other end of the scale, APOEL Nicosia, Ferencvaros Budapest and Union Saint-Gilloise will have to fight back from two goals down at home. All the winning teams will advance to the play-off round while the losers from the champions' path go into the UEFA Europa League play-off phase. The losers from the league path will directly be admitted to the UEFA Europa League league phase.

Ludogorets Razgrad vs. FK Qarabag Agdam

In a clash between two teams with Champions League experience, Ludogorets managed to get a slim lead away in Azerbaijan. They will look to defend this lead against the only side from Azerbaijan ever to get a Champions League group stage ticket.

AHY4001 GYD 1630-1830 VAR A319 4K-AZ05 (12/08/24)

AYH4002 VAR 1930-2300 GYD A319 4K-AZ05 (12/08/24, ferry flight)

AHY4002 VAR 0130-xxxx GYD (14/08/24)

Bodø/Glimt vs. Jagiellonia Bialystok

Neither of these two sides have ever made it to the group stage of Europe's premier club football competition. With an away win in the pocket, Bodø/Glimt are surely looking forward to sealing a spot in the next round. For their trip up North to Bodø, Jagiellonia Bialystok count on LOT Polish Airlines.

LO7299 WAW 0940-1225 BOO E195 SP-LNL (12/08/24)

LO7300 BOO 1315-1545 WAW E195 SP-LNL (12/08/24, ferry flight)

LO7300 BOO 1325-xxxx WAW E195 (14/08/24)

FCSB vs. Sparta Prague

A rather unusual travel arrangement for the Czech champions, with Turkish Airlines taking them from Prague to Bucharest. For the return flight however, they will be able to count on their home carrier Smartwings and one of their Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

TK3281 PRG 1200-1440 OTP A321 TC-JRM (12/08/24)

QS4313 OTP xxxx-1515 PRG B738 (14/08/24)

Union St-Gilloise vs. Slavia Prague

Taking two goals' advantage into the return leg, Slavia Prague travel on Sunday evening already. In this league phase tie, the loser will at least be playing in the UEFA Europa League in the next few months. This means less pressure on the teams. A win could definitely be seen as a massive bonus though.

QS4374 PRG 1825-2015 BRU B737 OK-SWW (11/08/24)

Twente Enschede vs. FC Salzburg

For the first time in some years, the Red Bull club from Salzburg is not playing as a league champion, but as the Austrian league's runner-up. They led 2-0 at home in the first leg against Twente, but then conceded a late goal that just about keeps the Dutch runners-up in the tie. Salzburg will fly directly to the former airbase of Enschede, using one of the two Avanti Air Dash 8-400 turboprops.

ATV012H GRZ 1240-1330 SZG DH8D (12/08/24, ferry flt)

ATV121H SZG 1500-1645 ENS DH8D (12/08/24)

ATV141H ENS xxxx-1535 SZG DH8D (14/08/24)

ATV041H SZG 1630-xxxx GRZ DH8D (14/08/24, ferry flt)

Avanti Air Dash 8-Q400 D-AASH

arriving at London-Gatwick in May 2024

APOEL Nicosia vs. Slovan Bratislava

A KlasJet Boeing 737-500 will fly under an AirExplore flight number from Bratislava to Larnaca with the Slovak national champions on board. Slovan Bratislava will look to consolidate or at least defend the 2-0 lead from the first leg. The winner from this tie will face the winner of the tie between Ferencvaros and Midtjylland in the play-off round. All in all, this seems to be a rather easy way to the main round of the UEFA Champions League. But all matches have to be played and won of course.

ED8103 BTS 1330-1720 LCA B735 LY-FLT (12/08/24)

PAOK Saloniki vs. Malmö FF

In rather discrete manner, Malmö FF will travel to their away assignment in Greece. Just an Embraer EMB-145 is enough for them to fly to Thessaloniki. In this tie, everything seems wide open after Malmö FF twice took the lead and PAOK twice equalised in the first leg for a 2-2 draw.

TLJ818M LBG 0645-0830 MMX E145 F-HFKF (12/08/24, ferry flt)
TLJ818M MMX 1000-1350 SKG E145 F-HFKF (12/08/24)

Fenerbahçe Istanbul vs. Lille OSC

In the league path, Lille have a tricky trip ahead to Sükru Saracoglu, traditionally a difficult venue for away teams. At least LOSC will have one goal's advantage to defend against the Turkish runners-up. Boeing 737-500 LY-KDT is another well-known feature on the football charter circuit.

KLJ2094 LPA 0730-1220 LIL B735 LY-KDT (12/08/24, ferry flt)
KLJ2101 LIL 1415-1840 IST B735 LY-KDT (12/08/24)

Glasgow Rangers vs. Dynamo Kyiv

As has been the case in the past couple of years, Dynamo Kyiv have set up camp in Poland. They will arrive in Glasgow directly from Lublin with Comlux Aviation Malta and their Boeing 737-500, a rare feature these days with its retro-fitted winglets. The winners of this clash will face the winners of the tie between Salzburg and Twente Enschede.

MLM712 NCE 0600-0805 LUZ B735 9H-MAC (12/08/24, ferry flt)
MLM712 LUZ 1000-1155 GLA B735 9H-MAC (12/08/24)

Ferencvaros vs. Midtjylland

One of two teams to travel by turboprop aircraft in this round, Midtjylland take a 2-0 lead with them to Budapest. Frost Air provides a Saab 2000 for this trip. 

FRO084 BLL 1210-1415 BUD SB20 OY-FSB (12/08/24)