Spanish giants give Bohemians further incentive
The draw for the third round was made in Switzerland yesterday with the Gypsies given a great incentive when they line up against Rosenborg next week.
Deportivo are tried and trusted Champions League veterans, having qualified in each of the last three years, reaching the second phase last season and the quarter-finals in 2002. The third round first leg takes place on August 12 or 13, which would be a home game for the eircom League champions, with the second leg two weeks later. However, Stephen Kenny and his players will not be getting carried away as they keep their minds firmly on tomorrow's FAI Carlsberg Cup second round clash with Dundalk before turning their attention to Rosenborg.
Newcastle boss Bobby Robson was in defiant mood after seeing his side handed a tough Champions League qualifier. The Magpies will either face Yugoslavian side Partizan Belgrade the Magpies' conquerors in the 1998-99 Cup Winners' Cup or face Swedish champions Djurgardens in the final qualifying round.
Robson admitted the draw had done his side few favours, but promised whoever stands between them and their dreams a battle.
"I think this is a tough draw. They are both good teams and I am particularly aware that Partizan is a very good and technically strong side.
"I had hoped for a softer draw, but as it turns out, it's a difficult draw - but it will also be difficult for whichever team progresses to play us, particularly when they come to Newcastle.
"Our ambitions are high and we hope to go through. We have already tasted Champions League football and know what we are playing for."
Chelsea, too, could face a familiar trip after being drawn against either Slovakian outfit MSK Zilina or Maccabi Tel-Aviv. The Blues headed for Israel amid security concerns two seasons ago to face Maccabi's city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup and went out 3-1 on aggregate.
Like Newcastle, they will play in either Tel Aviv or Zilina in the north of Slovakia close to the borders with the Czech Republic and Poland first before the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
Scottish champions Rangers will meet either FC Copenhagen or Maltese side Sliema Wanderers, while Old Firm rivals Celtic, provided they see off FBK Kaunas of Lithuania in the second round, will line up against either MTK Hungaria of Hungary or Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki.
But perhaps the tie of the round is the clash between Italian giants Lazio and Portuguese side Benfica.
Full third qualifying round draw: CSKA Moscow (Rus)/Vardar (Mac) v Sparta Prague (Cze); MTK Hungaria (Hun)/HJK Helsinki (Fin) v FBK Kaunas (Lit)/Celtic (Sco); Rangers (Sco) v FC Copenhagen (Den)/Sliema Wanderers (Mlt); Austria Vienna (Aut) v Marseille (Fra); Club Brugge (Bel) v Borussia Dortmund (Ger); Sheriff Tiraspol (Mol) or Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr) v Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus); Lazio (Ita) v Benfica (Por); Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) v Maribor (Slo)/Dinamo Zagreb (Cro); Bohemians (Irl)/Rosenborg (Nor) v Deportivo La Coruna (Spa); Grasshoppers (Swi) v AEK Athens (Gre); MSK Zilina (Svk)/Maccabi Tel Aviv (Isr) v Chelsea (Eng); Celta Vigo (Spa) v Leotar (Bsh)/Slavia Prague (Cze); Partizan Belgrade (Yug)/Djurgarden (Swe) v Newcastle (Eng); Galatasaray (Tur) v FC Pyunik (Arm)/CSKA Sofia (Bul); Rapid Bucharest (Rom)/Anderlecht (Bel) v Wisla Krakow (Pol)/Omonia Nicosia (Cyp); FK Tirana (Alb)/Graz AK (Swi) v Ajax (Ned)
First legs to be played on August 12 or 13 with the second legs on August 26 and 27.
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