Second round takes shape

The big names of Boavista FC, FC Dinamo Kyiv and AC Sparta Praha have learned who they will face in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League after the completion of the first round.

High hopes
All three sides were involved in the group stages of last year's competition and have high hopes of negotiating their way through qualifying. However, there were some impressive performances in last night's second-leg matches which will have given the bigger clubs something to think about ahead of the first legs on 31 July.

Resolute defence
Dynamo face a tricky tie against FC Pyunik, after the Armenian champions easily saw off Finnish side Tampere United FC with a 6-0 aggregate win. The Ukrainian giants will have to work hard to break down a resolute Pyunik defence.

Never in trouble
Sparta will meet FC Torpedo Kutaisi after the Georgian team finished up with a 6-2 triumph against B36 Tórshavn. Torpedo were never in trouble and will hope to profit against a Sparta defence minus the goalkeeping services of last season's hero Petr Cech.

Close encounter
Boavista will play Hibernians FC after a close tie finished with the Maltese side winning 3-2 on aggregate. The Portuguese team will do well to take note of Hibernians' never-say-die attitude after they struck in the last minute against Shelbourne, just as they looked to be exiting the competition on away goals.

Tight finish
There was also a tight finish in Cyprus as APOEL Nicosia FC squeezed into the next round and a meeting with NK Maribor of Slovenia. The Cypriots saw off FC Flora with a 1-0 win after a goalless first leg.

Brushed aside
PFC Levski Sofia lie in wait for FC Skonto, overwhelming victors against Welsh team Barry Town AFC. After a 5-0 first-leg triumph, Skonto sealed their passage with a 1-0 away win last night. FC Belshina Bobruisk brushed aside Portadown FC 3-2 after a goalless first leg and will now meet Maccabi Haifa. KS Dinamo Tirana also progressed 3-2 on aggregate against FBK Kaunas and the Albanian champions will take on Brøndby IF

Emphatic score
The reward for F.Y.R. Macedonia's FK Vardar following their 4-1 aggregate victory against F91 Dudelange is a meeting with Legia Warszawa, while FK Zeljeznicar have been paired with Lillestrøm SK after an emphatic 4-0 aggregate defeat of ÍA Akranes - their first ever success in this competition. Finally, FC Sheriff Tiraspol's progression on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate draw with FC Zhenis Astana of Kazakhstan has led to a tie against Grazer AK of Austria.

Already decided
The final three of the 14 second qualifying round ties were already decided before last night's games. Zalaegerszegi TE of Hungary will meet Croatian side NK Zagreb, Club Brugge FC will meet Romania's FC Dinamo Bucuresti and MSK Zilina of Slovakia will do battle with FC Basel of Switzerland.