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Artmedia show underdogs the way

If teams in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round need any inspiration, FC Artmedia Petržalka's run to the group stage in 2005/06 should provide it.

If any team in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League needs inspiration, they need look no further than FC Artmedia Petržalka's incredible run to the group stage in 2005/06. "It was a dream ... a unique moment," captain Ján Kozák says, recalling how three years ago his side surprised Europe by reaching the group stage from the first qualifying round.

Astonishing run
Only one Slovakian side had previously got there, and expectations on Artmedia, already slim, fell further when they lost the first leg of their first qualifying match 2-0 away to FC Kairat Almaty. That defeat, though, set the stage for an astonishing run. Artmedia, playing in the competition for the first time, won the return 4-1 thanks to a last-gasp extra-time goal to advance 4-3 on aggregate, then pulled off one of the most remarkable results of the season by beating Celtic FC 5-0 in the first leg of the second qualifying round.

'Dream'
The 1967 European champions came storming back to win the second leg 4-0, but Artmedia advanced. They then defeated FK Partizan on penalties after two goalless draws to seal their improbable place in the group stage. "It was a dream to play in Champions League, a unique monent," Kozák tells uefa.com as he prepares for Tuesday's first-round tie against Malta's Valletta FC. "It's not every day you have the chance to do that. The hardest thing for us was to survive the qualifying rounds. We had three dramatic ties against Kairat, Celtic and then the penalty drama with Partizan. But once we had survived and got to the group phase, it started to get much easier."

Porto beaten
Artmedia, drawn in Group H with FC Internazionale Milano, FC Porto and Rangers FC, would have reached the knockout stage had they defeated FC Porto in their final game on a rain-soaked night at the Tehelné Pole stadium, though a goalless draw did deservedly clinch third place and a spot in the UEFA Cup. "We had six chances to make an impression and we did it," says Kozák, who scored in the 3-2 win away to Porto on Matchday 2 when Artmedia fought back from two goals down to beat the 2004 champions. "All the players who took part then are proud of what we did. Of course we had some luck, but as a footballer you need that sometimes. And luck goes hand in hand with the quality of the team."

Champions again
Since then Artmedia have finished runners-up twice before reclaiming the Slovakian title last season to earn their second shot at Europe's premier club competition. The 28-year-old, who had a brief spell on loan with West Bromwich Albion FC, is one of six players from the 2005/06 side still with Artmedia, alongside midfielders Branislav Obžera and Branislav Fodrek, defender Aleš Urbánek, and goalkeepers Ľuboš Kamenár and Juraj Čobej.

Brazilian arrivals
Čobej was the hero of the penalty shoot-out victory against Partizan and has since recovered from brain surgery on a tumour to resume his career, though Kamenár is now the No1. Artmedia have also added Brazilian flair to their predominantly Slovakian side with Anderson Gonçalves Pedro signing from MKS Pogon Szczecin over the summer to complement Kléber who arrived the year before.

Brazilian flair
Perhaps of more importance, coach Vladimír Weiss, who masterminded that terrific run and led Artmedia to the double last season, has come to an agreement to lead the club through the qualifying rounds despite being contracted to take charge of the Slovakian national side on 1 August. No announcement has yet been made on his successor. Even with Weiss at the helm, Kozák knows just how hard the challenge ahead will be. "We will try to make a breakthrough again this season, but it will be very, very tough," he said.

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