[Jager]

Lazio to face Bucharest Friday 3 August, 2007

Lazio will take on Romanian outfit Dinamo Bucharest later this month for a place in the Champions League group stage.

The Biancocelesti will be quietly confident of overcoming their unseeded opponents when they meet on August 14/15 and 28/29, with the first leg being played at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, Bucharest have won their national championship on 18 occasions and are no strangers to the continental stage.

Should they emerge victorious the capital boys will be taking their place among Europe’s top 32 clubs for the first time since the 2003-04 season when they were led by Roberto Mancini.

Elsewhere, calcio enthusiasts will have one eye on the second round qualifying matches taking place next week.

If Giovanni Trapattoni’s Red Bull Salzburg side overcome Latvian outfit FK Ventspils then he could meet Cristiano Lucarelli’s Shakhtar Donetsk if the Ukrainians can beat FC Pyunik.

Six former winners of the prestigious trophy were involved in the draw, with Benfica, Ajax and Celtic among the seeded teams, along with Liverpool and UEFA Cup holders Sevilla.

The winners of the 16 third qualifying round ties will go through to September's group stage, where they will join the 16 teams who have automatically qualified.

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