GENEVA - Arsenal and Porto are among the big clubs entering the Champions League qualifying campaign when the draw for the last-round playoffs is held Friday. Clinton Portis Jersey . Arsenal, chasing a 17th straight group-stage campaign, and two-time European champion Porto are the highest-ranked teams in the 20-team draw. They are seeded with Zenit St. Petersburg, 2002 runner-up Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli in the section for teams which are not national champions. Their unseeded opponents are Athletic Bilbao, Lille, Copenhagen, Standard Liege and Besiktas. The Turkish club advanced from the third qualifying round Wednesday with a hat trick from former Chelsea forward Demba Ba to beat Feyenoord 3-1 and complete a 5-2 aggregate win. "He is not 100 per cent but fit to play," Besiktas coach Slaven Bilic said of his new signing. Clubs from the top five leagues in UEFAs rankings — Spain, England, Germany, Italy and Portugal — join in the fourth and final qualifying round, with two-leg matches scheduled for Aug. 19-20 and Aug. 26-27. In the champions section, 1986 European Cup winner Steaua Bucharest is seeded with Salzburg, APOEL, BATE Borisov and Ludogorets Razgrad. Potential opponents are Maribor, Legia Warsaw, Slovan Bratislava, 1979 runner-up Malmo and Aalborg. Playoff winners join the 22 clubs directly qualified for the group stage. The eight four-team groups are drawn Aug. 28 in Monaco. The 10 playoff losers enter the second-tier Europa League group stage, drawn Aug. 29. Though each playoff team gets 2.1 million euros ($2.8 million) form UEFA, the real prize — in status and cash — comes in the six-match Champions League group stage which kicks off in September. UEFA pays a basic 8.6 million euros ($11.5 million) fee for reaching group stage, plus 1 million euros ($1.34 million) per win and 500,000 euros ($670,000) per draw. Teams also get a share of television rights money in a near 1 billion euros ($1.34 billion) payout shared by the 32 group teams. Arsenals streak of claiming a share of that bonanza started in the 1998-99 season. Zenit was fined 6 million euros ($8 million) of its prize money last season by UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, and is restricted to registering only 22 senior players in this years competition instead of the usual 25-man squad. Led by former Porto and Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas, Zenit got two late goals Wednesday to beat AEL Limassol 3-0 and advance 3-1 on aggregate. In the champions section Wednesday, Legia routed group-stage regular Celtic 6-1 on aggregate, and perennial qualifier Dinamo Zagreb was stunned at home by Aalborg. Danish champion Aalborg is the lowest ranked of the 20 playoff teams, earning its place with a 2-0 win in Zagreb, to advance 2-1 on aggregate. Copenhagen, the Danish league runner-up, also advanced with a 2-0 second-leg win over Dnipro of Ukraine to remove one security problem from the Champions League. UEFA has deemed some Ukraine cities, including Dnipropetrovsk, unsafe to host matches during ongoing conflict with pro-Russian separatist rebels, and currently prohibits Ukraine vs. Russia matches in its club competitions. Malmos return to Europes elite links the competition to its 1970s heyday dominated by Ajax, Bayern Munich and Liverpool, which all feature in the groups draw The Swedish champion was not a fully professional club when it lost the 1979 European Cup final to Englands Nottingham Forest, and has never played in a Champions League group. Malmo advanced Wednesday when Markus Rosenberg scored twice in a 2-0 home win against Sparta Prague, enough to advance on away goals after losing the first leg 4-2. "Winning a match like this for this club, of course its special," Rosenberg said. Charley Taylor Redskins Jersey . "Hes over there," the first baseman said. "You dont need to talk to anybody else." Indeed, Peralta did it all as the majors top team won again. Sammy Baugh Jersey . Sweeting scored two in the first and three in the second before Strong (4-4) got two back in the fourth. Sweeting then scored three in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to grab a commanding 9-2 lead.Chad Johnsons signing with the Montreal Alouettes capped a month long period of speculation; CFL fans wondering if one of the most notorious receivers in recent memory would actually sign in the league, or if he was just having some fun on Twitter. The player formally known as Ochocinco is officially taking his act north of the border. Hell help the Alouettes at the turnstiles, but will he help them on the field? Johnson hasnt played a professional snap since 2011 with the New England Patriots, filling his time since then trying out for soccer teams, riding bulls, and dancing with the stars. His late career numbers in the NFL were less than impressive as well. The 36-year-old had just 831 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2010, his last campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals, whom he had his most success with, before capping his time in the NFL with a 276-yard, one touchdown season in New England. The veteran reportedly looked good in his tryout with the Als during their Florida mini-camp however and Montreal GM Jim Popp insists the teams interest is football-based. "Its all buusiness," Popp told reporters in Florida. Charley Taylor Youth Jersey. "Its real. Hes in great shape. He wants to play and well see how things are." And for Johnsons part, the 11-year NFLer insisted this wasnt another publicity stunt along the lines of his other post-NFL activities. "Its just football. Its football, its not about Montreal. Its about the opportunity to be able to play football again, something I love," Johnson told reporters, adding he was humbled by the opportunity to play in the CFL. And for all the headlines Johnson made during his time with the Bengals and Patriots, he was never considered a bad teammate. Knowing hes not likely to be a locker room cancer, his signing could be a gamble worth taking. With Anthony Calvillo retired, the Alouettes are looking for a new star. Johnson will certainly sell some tickets, but does he have enough gas left in the tank to justify people paying to see him play? The Rouge asks: Can Chad Johnson be successful with the Alouettes? Youve heard what weve had to say, now its your turn. As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '
GENEVA - Arsenal and Porto are among the big clubs entering the Champions League qualifying campaign when the draw for the last-round playoffs is held Friday. Clinton Portis Jersey . Arsenal, chasing a 17th straight group-stage campaign, and two-time European champion Porto are the highest-ranked teams in the 20-team draw. They are seeded with Zenit St. Petersburg, 2002 runner-up Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli in the section for teams which are not national champions. Their unseeded opponents are Athletic Bilbao, Lille, Copenhagen, Standard Liege and Besiktas. The Turkish club advanced from the third qualifying round Wednesday with a hat trick from former Chelsea forward Demba Ba to beat Feyenoord 3-1 and complete a 5-2 aggregate win. "He is not 100 per cent but fit to play," Besiktas coach Slaven Bilic said of his new signing. Clubs from the top five leagues in UEFAs rankings — Spain, England, Germany, Italy and Portugal — join in the fourth and final qualifying round, with two-leg matches scheduled for Aug. 19-20 and Aug. 26-27. In the champions section, 1986 European Cup winner Steaua Bucharest is seeded with Salzburg, APOEL, BATE Borisov and Ludogorets Razgrad. Potential opponents are Maribor, Legia Warsaw, Slovan Bratislava, 1979 runner-up Malmo and Aalborg. Playoff winners join the 22 clubs directly qualified for the group stage. The eight four-team groups are drawn Aug. 28 in Monaco. The 10 playoff losers enter the second-tier Europa League group stage, drawn Aug. 29. Though each playoff team gets 2.1 million euros ($2.8 million) form UEFA, the real prize — in status and cash — comes in the six-match Champions League group stage which kicks off in September. UEFA pays a basic 8.6 million euros ($11.5 million) fee for reaching group stage, plus 1 million euros ($1.34 million) per win and 500,000 euros ($670,000) per draw. Teams also get a share of television rights money in a near 1 billion euros ($1.34 billion) payout shared by the 32 group teams. Arsenals streak of claiming a share of that bonanza started in the 1998-99 season. Zenit was fined 6 million euros ($8 million) of its prize money last season by UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, and is restricted to registering only 22 senior players in this years competition instead of the usual 25-man squad. Led by former Porto and Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas, Zenit got two late goals Wednesday to beat AEL Limassol 3-0 and advance 3-1 on aggregate. In the champions section Wednesday, Legia routed group-stage regular Celtic 6-1 on aggregate, and perennial qualifier Dinamo Zagreb was stunned at home by Aalborg. Danish champion Aalborg is the lowest ranked of the 20 playoff teams, earning its place with a 2-0 win in Zagreb, to advance 2-1 on aggregate. Copenhagen, the Danish league runner-up, also advanced with a 2-0 second-leg win over Dnipro of Ukraine to remove one security problem from the Champions League. UEFA has deemed some Ukraine cities, including Dnipropetrovsk, unsafe to host matches during ongoing conflict with pro-Russian separatist rebels, and currently prohibits Ukraine vs. Russia matches in its club competitions. Malmos return to Europes elite links the competition to its 1970s heyday dominated by Ajax, Bayern Munich and Liverpool, which all feature in the groups draw The Swedish champion was not a fully professional club when it lost the 1979 European Cup final to Englands Nottingham Forest, and has never played in a Champions League group. Malmo advanced Wednesday when Markus Rosenberg scored twice in a 2-0 home win against Sparta Prague, enough to advance on away goals after losing the first leg 4-2. "Winning a match like this for this club, of course its special," Rosenberg said. Charley Taylor Redskins Jersey . "Hes over there," the first baseman said. "You dont need to talk to anybody else." Indeed, Peralta did it all as the majors top team won again. Sammy Baugh Jersey . Sweeting scored two in the first and three in the second before Strong (4-4) got two back in the fourth. Sweeting then scored three in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to grab a commanding 9-2 lead.Chad Johnsons signing with the Montreal Alouettes capped a month long period of speculation; CFL fans wondering if one of the most notorious receivers in recent memory would actually sign in the league, or if he was just having some fun on Twitter. The player formally known as Ochocinco is officially taking his act north of the border. Hell help the Alouettes at the turnstiles, but will he help them on the field? Johnson hasnt played a professional snap since 2011 with the New England Patriots, filling his time since then trying out for soccer teams, riding bulls, and dancing with the stars. His late career numbers in the NFL were less than impressive as well. The 36-year-old had just 831 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2010, his last campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals, whom he had his most success with, before capping his time in the NFL with a 276-yard, one touchdown season in New England. The veteran reportedly looked good in his tryout with the Als during their Florida mini-camp however and Montreal GM Jim Popp insists the teams interest is football-based. "Its all buusiness," Popp told reporters in Florida. Charley Taylor Youth Jersey. "Its real. Hes in great shape. He wants to play and well see how things are." And for Johnsons part, the 11-year NFLer insisted this wasnt another publicity stunt along the lines of his other post-NFL activities. "Its just football. Its football, its not about Montreal. Its about the opportunity to be able to play football again, something I love," Johnson told reporters, adding he was humbled by the opportunity to play in the CFL. And for all the headlines Johnson made during his time with the Bengals and Patriots, he was never considered a bad teammate. Knowing hes not likely to be a locker room cancer, his signing could be a gamble worth taking. With Anthony Calvillo retired, the Alouettes are looking for a new star. Johnson will certainly sell some tickets, but does he have enough gas left in the tank to justify people paying to see him play? The Rouge asks: Can Chad Johnson be successful with the Alouettes? Youve heard what weve had to say, now its your turn. As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '