Four Champions League play-off ties are decided on Wednesday 26 August, and all four remain level after the first legs. UEFA lists AEK Athens against Levski Sofia, Viking against GNK Dinamo, Celje against Slovan Bratislava and Lyon against Fenerbahce at 8:00pm West Africa Time.
AEK and Levski begin from 0-0, while the other three ties resume at 2-2, 1-1 and 1-1. Each home side must attack with enough ambition to win without gifting the opponent the first transition of the night.
The winners enter the 36-team Champions League league phase. UEFA confirms that the defeated sides move into the Europa League league phase, but that safety net does not remove the value of Wednesday's result.
The first 20 minutes should reveal the plan. A cautious opening protects the tie; an early press tries to define it. Which team controls that balance best?
