The Play-off round of the UEFA Champions League came to an end today, and five more teams were added to those who will try to take the trophy from Barcelona's hands next year.
BATE Borisov, Russian CSKA Moskva, Bayer Leverkusen and Astana will know their fate tomorrow, when the Champions League draw takes place. This will be the first time for Kazakh club Astana in the competition, while the other three teams participated in the 2014-2015 edition. Manchester United also made it to the group stage, after destroying Club Brugge with a massive performance by Wayne Rooney.
Here's how each series was decided.
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Lazio (3-1 aggregate)
Hakan Calhanoglu, Admir Mehmedi and Karim Bellarabi's goals cancelled Lazio's lead from the first leg, giving the German side the chance to redeem themselves after their heart-breaking elimination against Atletico Madrid in the last Champions League edition.
Bayer Leverkusen's progress makes it FOUR German teams in the #UCL main tournament for the THIRD straight season.
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) August 26, 2015
CSKA 3-1 Sporting CP (3-2 aggregate)
Teofilo Gutierrez's early goal seemed to be too much for the Russians to overcome, but a brace by Seydou Doumbia and one more by Ahmed Musa gave them the score line they needed to make it to the group stage. The Portuguese side tried to score once more, but the Russians prevailed and they will play in the European tournament for the second straight year.
CSKA bring Seydou Doumbia back on loan just before CL knockouts Scores 3 of their 4 goals in the tie. CSKA progress. pic.twitter.com/1OKZyBJsON
— Match Photography (@MatchPhotos) August 26, 2015
Partizan 2-1 BATE Borisov (2-2 aggregate)
Thanks to the away goal rule, BATE Borisov will make it once more to the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League. A go ahead goal by Igor Stasevich was almost cancelled by the hosts' efforts, who almost stunned the Belarusians with an own goal by Maksim Zhavnerchik and a late strike courtesy of Ivan Saponjic. As time ran out, BATE celebrated their place among Europe's finest, where they wil try to reach the knockout stage for the first time.
4 - BATE Borisov have won all 4 of their #uclplayoff ties. Coolness.
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) August 26, 2015
APOEL 1-1 Astana (1-2 aggregate)
The team from Cyprus seemed to be the favorite to win the series, given their home field advantage, but the away team fought hard to win their first-ever spot in the European competition. Semir Stilic scored the go ahead goal for the hosts, but Nemanja Maksimovic scored the equalizer with six minutes left on the clock to give the Kazakhs their place among Europe's finest.
Nemanja Maksimovic follows his U20-World-Cup-winning goal for Serbia with the late strike that takes Astana through to the UCL group stage
— Nick Dorrington (@chewingthecoca) August 26, 2015
The UEFA Champions League pots for the 2015-2016 edition will look like this.
CONFIRMED: POT 1 #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/d1Fnwz9rua
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 26, 2015
CONFIRMED: POT 2 #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/UpAnEChQnP
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 26, 2015
CONFIRMED: POT 3 #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/q7SPC4Ey1n
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 26, 2015
CONFIRMED: POT 4 #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/XnAO7pELT1
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 26, 2015