Champions League: Ajax in playoffs despite some fears, Porto and Celtic eliminated

Champions League

Ajax, a semi-finalist from last year's edition, managed to cross the third round of the Champions League on Tuesday by defeating PAOK Greek side Thessaloniki 3-2 after splitting 2-2 in the first leg.

Dutch made fears in front of their audience. They were led to the score after 23 minutes before Dusan Tadic missed a penalty (32). The Serbian striker bought himself eleven minutes later equalizing, transforming this time his eleven-meter test (43). It wasn't until the 79th minute that Nicolas Tagliafico allowed the Lancers to take advantage. Dusan Tadic, again with a penalty, widened the gap (85th) before Bieseswar, who also scored the first goal, set the score at 3-2 (90th +4). In the playoffs, Ajax will face the Cypriots of APOEL Nicosia, winners 0-2 against the Azerbaijan Qarabag after the 1-2 defeat of the first leg.

The big surprise of the evening comes from Portugal with the elimination of FC Porto, a quarter-finalist last season. The Dragons beat Krasnodar 0-1 in the first leg but collapsed in the first half on Tuesday to finally lose 2-3. At the break, the Russians were already leading 0-3 thanks to goals from Tonny Vilhena (3rd) and Magomed Suleymanov (13th and 34th). The Portuguese's second period "knife between the teeth" allowed to score two goals from Ze Luis (57th and Luis Diaz (76th)) but not tear a ticket for the dams.

In the next round, Krasnodar will defeat Olympiakos, who defeated the Basaksehir Turks 2-0 and confirmed their success 0-1 in the first leg.

Celta Boli Bolingoli Mbombo was removed by the Romanians from Cluj. The spectacular 3-4 loss to Celtic Park costs the Scottish qualifier after 1-1 in the first leg. Bolingoli Mbombo remained on the bench.

Rosenborg sacked Maribor with a double 3-1 and will face Dinamo Zagreb, an easy 0-4 victory over Ferencvaros after splitting 1-1 in the first leg.

Ultimately, only one match ended on penalties. Red Star Belgrade and Copenhagen split 1-1 in the first 90 minutes. The Serbs finally appeared in a fatal session marked by nine errors and will face the Young Boys of Bern in the finals.