Slovan Bratislava produced a stunning comeback to book a place in UEFA Champions League for the first time ever at the expense of Danish side Midtylland on Wednesday night.
It. Has. Happened.
For the first time in 14 years, a Slovak club will be in the main stage of the Champions League!
Incredible game in Bratislava, one that will live long in the memory.
Slovan have done it! pic.twitter.com/ukKTzwXL87— Slovak Football 🇸🇰 (@slovak_football) August 28, 2024
After a 1-1 draw in Denmark in the first leg of the play-off, Mark Tolic put the Slovakians ahead just after the half-hour, however goals just either side of half time from Aral Simsir and Franculino Dju looked like sending the visitors through.
With eight minutes remaining, however, Tolic grabbed the equaliser and four minutes from time Tigran Barseghyan sent the home crowd wild with the winner to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to Norwegians Bodo/Glimt to go through 3-2 on aggregate.
Bruno Duarte squeezed home a penalty on 26 minutes to level the tie and Uros Spajic completed the turnaround just before the hour in Belgrade.
Slavia Prague were edged out 3-2 on aggregate by Lille, despite winning the second leg and a grandstand finale.
After going down 2-0 in France last week Christos Zaferis put the hosts ahead after just seven minutes in Prague.
Edon Zhegrova looked to have calmed any Lille nerves with an equaliser on 77 minutes but Ivan Schranz put the Czechs ahead on the night six minutes from time and Zaferis hit the bar as they piled on late pressure, to no avail.
Dinamo Zagreb also went through to the new league phase of the expanded competition as the Croatian side completed a 5-0 aggregate win over Azerbaijan champions FK Qarabag, who finished with 10-men after Kevin Medina was sent-off late on for a second booking.
Marko Pjaca put the visitors ahead before the break with an own-goal from Matheus Silva nine minutes after the turnaround sealing a 2-0 win on the night.
Crvena Zvezda, Lille and Slovan Bratislava reach league phase 👏 #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 28, 2024
