Champions League: Former Winners Eye Group Stage Qualification

Champions League Battle Unfolds

Former winners Red Star Belgrade are on the verge of missing out on playing in the Champions League group stage after losing the first leg of their play-off tie. The 1991 champions will head back to Serbia trailing 2-1 after going down to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night. Odin Bjortuft's brave header in off the underside of the bar put the hosts in front seven minutes into the second half before Isak Dybvik Maatta curled in a brilliant second just after the hour to leave the Norwegian champions on course to reach the competition proper for the first time. Substitute Ognjen Mimovic's first ever senior goal pulled one back for the visitors to leave the tie delicately poised.

Key Performances from Dinamo Zagreb and Lille

In the Croatian capital, Sandro Kulenovic's late double helped Dinamo Zagreb seal a commanding 3-0 victory over Qarabag. After Martin Baturina struck the crossbar, Marko Pjaca gave the home side the lead at the second attempt close to the half-hour. Azerbaijan champions Qarabag subsequently rallied, going close through Patrick Andrade and Juninho shortly before the break. Yassine Benzia then hit the woodwork after the interval before Kulenovic struck twice in six minutes to secure the win.

And in France, Lille built a solid first-leg advantage with a deserved 2-0 victory over Slavia Prague at their temporary Stade du Hainaut home in Valenciennes. It was Canada striker Jonathan David who put Lille ahead after the restart before he turned provider for Edon Zhegorva to score a glorious second in the closing stages.