Malaga books spot in Champions League

BERNE: Malaga overcame their internal worries to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time after drawing 0-0 at Panathinaikos in the second leg of their playoff tie on Tuesday.
The Spanish side, facing uncertainty behind the scenes amid speculation that their Qatari owner is looking to sell up, won 2-0 on aggregate to ensure a place in today’s draw in Monaco.
Malaga have seen Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla and Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon depart for Arsenal and Rubin Kazan respectively in what the Andalusian club has described as a process of “internal restructuring.”
On Tuesday, Malaga comfortably held on in a game of few scoring chances against opponents who have taken part in the group stage nine times.
They were joined in the group stage by BATE Borisov and Dinamo Zagreb, who both qualified for the second year running, as well as last-gasp Anderlecht.
Dieudonne Mbokani and Oleksandr Yakovenko scored in the last 10 minutes to give the Belgian champions a 2-0 win over AEL Limassol, denying the Cypriot champions a chance to emulate APOEL Nicosia who reached the quarter-finals last time.
Anderlecht’s 3-2 aggregate win allowed them to take what many felt to be their rightful place in the group stage for which they had originally qualified.
The Belgians were demoted to the third qualifying round after Chelsea’s Champions League title last season following a sixth-place Premier League finish forced UEFA to reshuffle the places.
The changes also led to Tottenham Hotspur losing their berth and being moved into the Europa League.
BATE Borisov, full name Borisov Works of Automobile and Tractor Electric Equipment, ploughed into the group stage with a 1-1 draw at Israeli champions Hapoel Kiryat Shmona, which gave them a 3-1 aggregate win.
An early goal by Portuguese midfielder Tonel gave Dinamo Zagreb, Croatian champions for the last six seasons, a 1-0 win at Maribor in neighboring Slovenia and sent them through 3-1 on aggregate.
PAOK Salonika, Rapid
hit with suspended bans
Meantime, PAOK Salonika and Rapid Vienna were hit with suspended one-season bans by UEFA on Tuesday after crowd violence before a Europa League playoff match.
PAOK won the first leg 2-1 last week after clashes between rival fans during the warm-up. The return leg is on Thursday in Vienna.
PAOK will have to play their next three European home matches behind closed doors and have been fined 150,000 euros ($190,000). Rapid have been fined 75,000 euros and will have to play their following European home game behind closed doors.
“This punishment does not apply to the UEFA Europa League play-off second leg between Rapid and PAOK in Vienna on Thursday 30 August,” said UEFA.
The bans are suspended for three years and allow the winner of the playoff to continue in this season’s Europa League.
But either of the teams will be suspended immediately should any similar incidents occur within the three-year timeframe.
“The Greek and Austrian clubs have been disqualified for one competition in progress and/or excluded from the next competition for which they qualify in the next five years,” said UEFA.
“The bans for the two clubs are each suspended for probationary periods of three years.”
Dozens of PAOK fans spilled on to the pitch at the Toumba Stadium after flares were thrown by Rapid fans. Rapid said their fans were subjected to “almost unimaginable hatred” at the game.
Both clubs have the right to appeal and PAOK spokesman Kiriakos Kiriakos said the club intended to do so.
PAOK were charged with “the improper conduct of supporters — crowd disturbances, pitch invasion, setting off and throwing of missiles and fireworks — and insufficient organization.”
Rapid were charged with “improper conduct of supporters — crowd disturbances and setting off and throwing of fireworks and missiles.”