UEFA Champions League qualifying: PSV rampant as Sparta Prague and Copenhagen draw blank in heated first leg
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Updated 08/08/2023 at 22:30 GMT+1
PSV Eindhoven and Braga cruised to victory in their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first-leg ties. Elsewhere, Sparta Prague and Copenhagen could not be separated in their heated match at Parken in Denmark. Teams are fighting for a place in the play-off round in the hope of securing a group stage spot for the 2023/24 campaign in the competition.
Highlights: De Jong scores twice as PSV turn on the style to thrash Sturm Graz
PSV Eindhoven thrashed Sturm Graz 4-1 in Holland as they close in on a spot in the 2023/24 Champions League group stages.
The Dutch side were rampant in the first half when they went three goals up inside 32 minutes thanks to an early opener from Isaac Babadi and a brace from Luuk de Jong.
Jon Gorenc-Stankovic clawed a goal back for the Austrian side just before half-time, but Ibrahim Sangare added a fourth with 20 minutes remaining to put the tie firmly in PSV’s favour.
Elsewhere, Sparta Prague goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen pulled off a sensational double save to prevent Copenhagen from snatching a winner in their tie, which finished 0-0 at Parken in Denmark.
With the game goalless and 10 minutes left on the clock, Copenhagen broke forward through Elias Achouri who had a powerful strike denied by Jensen, before he emphatically kept out Diogo Goncalves’ follow-up from point-blank range.
The second leg, which will be played next Tuesday, August 15 live on TNT Sports, is poised nicely as tempers flared late on.
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Highlights: Copenhagen held by stubborn Sparta Prague in qualifier
Bruma and Pizzi scored early on to put Braga in control of their tie against TSC Backa Topola, and the Portuguese outfit put one foot in the play-off round when Alvaro Djalo scored late on to make it 3-0.
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Highlights: Bruma stunner helps Braga to handsome first leg victory
Galatasaray also won by a three-goal cushion to see off Olimpija Ljubljana before they travel to Slovenia for the second leg.
Kerem Akturkoglu, Dries Mertens and Halil Dervisoglu were enough for the Turkish side to stamp their authority on the tie.
Rakow Czestochowa beat Cypriot side Aris Limassol 2-1, while Klaksvik recorded a sensational comeback win with the same scoreline against Molde, courtesy of an Arni Frederiksberg second-half double.
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