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Barcelona, Juventus and Panathinaikos advance

— Photo: AP

TIME TO CELEBRATE: Juventus’ Amauri headed in Pavel Nedved’s cross from close range.

MANCHESTER: Two-time European champions FC Barcelona and Juventus relied on their first-leg victories to advance into the Champions League group stage on Tuesday night.

After both cruised to 4-0 victories two weeks ago, Barcelona was defeated 1-0 at Wisla Krakow in Poland, and Juventus was held 1-1 by Artmedia in Slovakia in the third qualifying round.

Greek side Panathinaikos, which led Sparta Prague 2-1 from the first leg, secured its place in Friday’s draw by getting an injury time goal from Rodrigo Souza for a 1-0 victory.

Juventus returns to the lucrative group phase after a two-year absence resulting from the Turin club’s part in Italy’s match-fixing scandal, which saw it relegated to the second division in 2006.

Early lead

The Slovak champion went ahead in the 14th minute when midfielder Branislav Fodrek volleyed Marian Cisovsky’s cross past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The post denied Juventus striker Amauri from equalising a minute later, but the Brazilian scored in the 25th when he headed Pavel Nedved’s cross over the line from close range to secure the 5-1 aggregate victory. Juventus had several other chances denied, with goalkeeper Lubos Kamenar preventing Amauri from doubling his tally in the 29th and then thwarting Vincenzo Iaquinta’s header in the 52nd.

“I’m not disappointed with the result,” Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri said. “It was difficult to motivate the team after the comprehensive victory at home. Artmedia confirmed its quality and deserved to draw.”

Artmedia coach Vladimir Weiss was pleased with his final match before concentrating on his new job in charge of Slovakia.

“I consider the 1-1 draw with Juventus a success,” Weiss said.

Barcelona, which begins the Spanish league season on Sunday with a visit to promoted Numancia, progressed with a 4-1 aggregate victory despite Wisla Krakow defender Cleber inflicting new coach Pep Guardiola’s first defeat.

“I don’t think today we have taken a step backwards in our preparations,” Guardiola said.“We lost but we could have drawn or even won.”

Guardiola included three of Barcelona’s five new acquisitions — right back Daniel Alves, central defender Gerard Pique and midfielder Seydou Keita — in his starting lineup. He rested forward Olympic champion Lionel Messi, who recently returned from Beijing after his triumph with Argentina.

Cushioned by its advantage from the Camp Nou stadium two weeks ago, the Catalans looked unimpressive before halftime. The visitors almost conceded a goal in the 20th minute when goalkeeper Victor Valdes mis-hit a ball and midfielder Wojciech Lobodzinski chipped just wide.

The results: Artmedia Bratislava 1 (Fodrek 12) drew with Juventus 1 (Amauri 25) - Juventus won 5-1 on aggregate; Wisla Krakow 1 (Cleber 52) bt Barcelona 0 - Barcelona won 4-1 on aggregate; Panathinaikos 1 (Souza 90+4) bt Sparta Prague 0 - Panathinaikos won 3-1 on aggregate. — AP

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