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| Friday, July 26, 2002 13:06 EST |
Inter Milan draws Sporting Lisbon
[Reuters]
NYON, Switzerland -- Ronaldo's Inter Milan faces a battle to qualify for the lucrative group phase of the
Champions League after they were drawn against Sporting Lisbon in the third qualifying round.
Sporting were one of the unseeded teams that the top sides -- among them seven former title winners -- had hoped to
avoid in Friday's draw at UEFA headquarters.
UEFA Cup holders Feyenoord of the Netherlands were also given a tough draw against Turkey's Fenerbahce but
Manchester United, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Barcelona were handed more straightforward ties.
Inter were knocked out by Sweden's Helsingborg in the final qualifying stage for the 2000/01 Champions League and
they will need Brazilian World Cup hero Ronaldo to be at his best to over come Sporting.
"It will be a very difficult game," said Inter vice-president Giacinto Facchetti.
"Sporting Lisbon are one of the best possible opponents. But when we were in the Champions League the last time
we drew with the weaker teams and we went out of the competition, so perhaps it's better to play a strong team."
Inter's neighbours, five-times winners AC Milan, have an easier task against Slovan Liberec of the Czech Republic.
Manchester United, the 1999 European champions, will play Zalaegerszegi of Hungary or Croatia Zagreb who play
each other in the second qualifying round on July 31 and August 7.
United, whose Old Trafford stadium is hosting this season's Champions League final on May 28, played Croatia
Zagreb home and away in the first group stage of the 1999-2000 competition. They drew 0-0 at Old Trafford and won 2-1
away.
The 2000 winners Bayern, who like United are forced to qualify after only finishing third in their domestic league last
season, tackle Swedish side Hammarby or Partizan Belgrade of Yugoslavia.
Feyenoord's tie with Fenerbahce, with the first leg in the Netherlands, will raise security concerns given the reputations
of both sets of fans.
Fenerbahce's vice-president Sadettin Saran said: "Feyenoord is a very difficult team. They were UEFA Cup
champions last year but Fenerbahce have strengthened the team this year with some good transfers.
"It's going to be a difficult game but Turkish football is rising after the (semi-final) performance in the World Cup.
Saran said he did not expect security problems. "We've played matches in other countries like England where the fans
are boisterous. It comes with the territory."
The 1992 winners, Barcelona, will be relatively happy with a draw against either Vardar Skopje of Macedonia or Legia
Warsaw.
Newcastle United were likewise content after being drawn against either Lillestrom of Norway or Zeljeznicar Sarajevo.
"It could have been worse, we're quite happy, we expect the Norwegians to win (their second qualifying round tie),"
said Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd.
"If it's Bosnia, it's Bosnia but we're used to that part of the world. Neither team will faze us."
Scottish champions Celtic will face either Zilina of Slovakia or Swiss team Basel, while France's Auxerre play Boavista
of Portugal or Maltese team Hibernians.
The first leg matches of the third qualifying round will be played on August 13-14 and the return legs on August 27-28.
The 16 winners will take their place alongside the 16 automatic qualifiers in the draw for the opening group phase.
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