Intertoto reaches critical moment

The UEFA Intertoto Cup concludes this weekend with 22 teams still in the hunt to be one of eleven that will take part in qualifying for the 2007/08 UEFA Cup.

Nyon draw
After impressive first-leg displays, several clubs could be forgiven for dreaming of who they might get to face when the UEFA Cup second qualifying round draw is held in Nyon on 3 August. Then, the eleven Intertoto winners will be joined by the
37 triumphant teams from the UEFA Cup first qualifying round, which concludes early next month, and 16 other new entrants.

Blackburn happy
Most content will be UC Sampdoria and Blackburn Rovers FC after recording polished 1-0 and 2-0 away wins at PFC Cherno More Varna and FK Vėtra respectively. Blackburn manager Mark Hughes said: "We are happy with the result. We are very early in our preparation and I think at times that showed, but we are very grateful that we did not concede." Hamburger SV and RC Lens, two other famous names, will hope to win at home after being pushed hard in respective draws at FC Dacia Chisinau (1-1) and FC Chornomorets Odesa (0-0).

Aguirre hopeful
Blackburn, Sampdoria, Hamburg and Lens were among eight teams joining the Intertoto action in the third round but things were not so straightforward for Club Atlético de Madrid, who lost 2-1 at FC Gloria 1922 Bistrita, while second-round winners FC Rubin Kazan also have it all to do following a 3-1 reverse at FK Austria Wien. Javier Aguirre, the Atlético coach, said: "No one is happy with our performance, especially in the first half, but we are still in the tie."

Romanian double
Gloria are one of two clubs from Romania involved with FC Otelul Galati also on a high after a 2-1 home success against Trabzonspor. Five of the sides taking part in the third round have progressed to this decisive stage through the first two rounds - Gloria, FC Tobol Kostanay, FC Dacia Chisinau, Hammarby and Vėtra – but only Gloria and Tobol, who won 1-0 at home against OFI Crete, hold the upper hand from their weekend fixtures.

Key dates
After the Intertoto conclusion, the 32 survivors of the UEFA Cup second qualifying round on 16 and 30 August will advance to the first round proper, to be staged over two legs on 20 September and 4 October. There 48 other clubs will lie in wait, including the 16 teams eliminated in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. The first-round winners will participate in the UEFA Cup group stage, with the Intertoto team that gets the furthest ultimately declared the 2007 winners.