yellowstone

European giants Barcelona and Juventus took their places in this week's Champions League group draw after safely negotiating third qualifying round return ties on Tuesday.


Amauri scores as Juventus complete 5-1 aggregate win over Artmedia to reach Champions group stage.

Spanish giants Barcelona slipped to a 1-0 second leg defeat at Wisla Krakow but still went through 4-1 on aggregate against the Polish champions who will now enter the UEFA Cup.

Twice European champions Barcelona were missing Lionel Messi, an Olympic gold medalist with Argentina, but welcomed back Daniel Alves from injury.

Wisla's Brazilian centreback Cleber scored the only goal on the night in the 52nd minute, but it wasn't enough to turn around their gaping first leg deficit.

Having ensured their participation in Europe's top club competition with all the prestige and revenue that that brings, the Catalan club can now concentrate on their opening league game against CD Numancia at the weekend.

Despite going through to the group stages their visit ended on a low note with an injury time booking for France international striker Thierry Henry.

Italian hopes Juventus also cruised into the group stage following a 1-1 draw against Slovakians Artmedia in Bratislava.

That completed a 5-1 aggregate victory that ensured Juve's return to the top table of European competition after a two-year absence.

Juventus were as good as home and dry following their 4-0 victory at home two weeks ago and left both Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet on the bench.

Artmedia took the lead on 12 minutes when Branislav Fodrek met a cross from the right with an acrobatic overhead kick to fire the ball beyond Gianluigi Buffon and into the top corner.

Juve immediately stepped up the pace and Amauri met a Pavel Nedved cross with a downward header that bounced up and came back off the post.

The combination were not to be denied and on 25 minutes Amauri peeled off to the back post to meet a Nedved cross and his header back across goalkeeper Lubos Kamenar found the back of the net.

Greek hopes Panathinaikos also won through when a goal by Souza in the fourth minute of time added on completed a 3-1 aggregate victory over Czech visitors Sparta Prague.

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