New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) – The opening legs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-offs saw mixed fortunes for Europe’s contenders, with Benfica battling to a goalless draw at Fenerbahce despite being reduced to ten men, while Bodø/Glimt took a huge stride towards their first-ever group stage berth with a 5-0 demolition of Sturm Graz.
In Istanbul, goalkeepers Irfan Can Egribayat and Anatoliy Trubin were kept busy as both sides created but failed to convert chances. Benfica’s task was made harder when Florentino was sent off midway through the second half for a second booking, ruling him out of next week’s return leg in Lisbon.
In Norway, Bodø/Glimt produced a scintillating display to dismantle Sturm Graz. Kasper Høgh’s chip opened the scoring, followed quickly by Odin Bjørtuft’s header and Ulrik Saltnes’ composed finish inside 25 minutes. The hosts pressed on after the interval, with Håkon Evjen adding a fourth before a William Bøving own goal sealed a memorable 5-0 win, leaving Sturm with a mountain to climb in the second leg. The Norwegian champions have now won eight successive home games in Champions League qualifying.
Elsewhere, Celtic were held at home by Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, who frustrated the Scottish champions with a disciplined performance. The visitors carved out better first-half chances, while Celtic’s James Forrest struck the post early in the second half. Kairat almost stole victory when Edmilson’s audacious lob dropped narrowly over the bar.
In Switzerland, FC Basel and FC Copenhagen shared the spoils in a lively 1-1 draw at St. Jakob-Park. Xherdan Shaqiri put Basel ahead from the penalty spot after Rodrigo Huescas fouled Albian Ajeti, but Gabriel Pereira equalised in first-half stoppage time. Basel finished with ten men after Jonas Adjetey was dismissed late on for a second yellow card.
The play-off round began Tuesday, highlighted by Club Brugge’s blistering start at Rangers, scoring three goals inside 20 minutes en route to a 3-1 away win. There were also victories on the road for Pafos and Qarabag.
