Champions League

Beşiktaş plans to finish what it started last week when it hosts Feyenoord in the Champions League third qualifying round second leg tonight.

The Black Eagles will be hoping to capitalize on a strong performance in the first leg, when they beat the Dutch runner-up 2-1 in the game in Rotterdam’s De Kuip stadium.

RAZGRAD - FC Partizan Belgrade played to a goalless draw against Bulgaria's PFC Ludogorets in Razgrad late Wednesday in the first, away leg of the third round of the Champions League qualifiers.

The Serbian team achieved the objective of keeping a clean sheet and come away undefeated against the Bulgarian champions.

By George Georgakopoulos

Panathinaikos got the upper hand in the battle for entry to the Champions League playoffs after snatching a goalless draw at Standard Liege on Wednesday.

If anything, the Greek cup holders missed a great chance to score an away win that would have seen them all but through to the last stage before the Champions League groups.

Former referee Hugh Dallas has been appointed as the head referee of the Greek Super League, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 56-year-old Scot earned the position by a majority vote of the EPO's executive committee members.

Dallas will oversee the selection and assessment of referees as well as their appointments for matches.

By Graham Wood

Former referee Hugh Dallas has been appointed as the head referee of the Greek Super League, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 56-year-old Scot earned the position by a majority vote of the EPO's executive committee members.

Hoping to return to Champions League football after five years of absence, Turkish Super League side Beşiktaş starts the third qualifying round with a game against Feyenoord in Rotterdam tonight Beşiktaş plays against Feyenoord in the Champions League third qualifying round tonight, in a bid to return to the  top-level European club competition for the first time in five years.

 Asteras Tripolis snatched 1-1 draw in Finland

By George Georgakopoulos

The draw for the third qualifying round of the Champions League on Friday has put Belgian league runner-up Standard Liege on Panathinaikos’s way to the competition’s play-offs, meaning the Greens have avoided more dangerous opponents such as Zenit St. Petersburg and Lille.

Beşiktaş will face Feyenoord in the Champions League third qualifying round in a bid to become the second Turkish team in the competition.

The Black Eagles will visit the Dutch league runners-up in the first leg game to be played on July 29 or 30. The return leg will be played on Aug. 5 or 6 in Istanbul.

European football’s governing body UEFA announced July 17 that no Champions League or Europa League matches could be played in Israel until further notice “for security reasons,” as it also said Ukrainian and Russian clubs will not face each other at its top annual organization.

Greek champion Olympiakos Piraeus continued its summer rebuilding by signing Swiss midfielder Pajtim Kasami on a three-year deal from English side Fulham, it announced on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old international, who did not make Switzerland's World Cup squad, signed for an undisclosed fee from the Londoners, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.