Bode-Glimt took a big step towards qualifying for the Champions League, after convincingly defeating Dutch side NEC Nijmegen 3-1 away. The Norwegians controlled the match and took advantage of the hosts' mistakes.
Fet scored for 1:0 in the 25th minute, and Helmersen doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Alesami made it 3:0 at the start of the second half. NEC managed to reduce the deficit through Bischof, but Bode-Glimt, last year's big surprise, a participant in the round of 16, has an excellent reserve before the second leg.
Slovan and Celje played out a 1-1 draw in Bratislava. The Slovaks took the lead in the 15th minute through Čerepkai and had control for a long time, but the Slovenians equalized just before the break with a spectacular goal by Milot Avdili.
Slovan continued to have the initiative, but failed to find a way to score the second goal. The Slovenian champions thus carry a favorable result from Bratislava ahead of the second leg and will attempt to make history in the Champions League in front of their fans in seven days.
Sabah from Baku failed to produce a good result in the first playoff match, even though they were playing as guests of Israeli champions Hapoel Beer Sheva on a neutral field - in Bucharest.
Hapoel celebrated 2:1 and gained the advantage before the second leg. Sabah took the lead in the sixth minute through Veljko Simić, who headed the ball into the net. The home team equalized towards the end of the first half, when Jevon East scored.
The team from Baku had chances to take the lead again later on, but Orfe Mbina was inaccurate on two occasions. The penalty arrived in the 79th minute - Igor Zlatanović headed home from a corner kick and brought Hapoel a turnaround.
Celtic have many reasons to be happy, having defeated LASK Linz with a convincing 3:0 at home.
The Scottish champions took the lead through Benjamin Nygren in the 26th minute, while Colombian Camilo Duran confirmed the home team's convincing triumph with two goals, in the 38th and 67th minutes.
LASK had a few good chances but had two goals disallowed for offside in the first half. However, Celtic maintained a big lead heading into the second leg in Austria.
Results
Hapoel Beer Sheva - Sabah 2:1 (1:1)
Celtic - LASK 3:0 (2:0)
NEC - Bode-Glimt 1:3 (0:2)
Slovan Bratislava - Celje 1:1 (1:1)
The second leg is next week
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