Qualification round: best historical performances

Champions League qualification begins on Tuesday with 28 clubs entering at this stage.

The first qualification round was included in 2002. Dynamo Kyiv arrived to semifinals in 1998/1999 season, leads by Andriy Shevchenko.

Since the current system of qualification was introduced in 1999/2000, only two clubs entering at the first qualification round have extended their run to the group phase.

Liverpool and Artmedia Bratislava both qualified for the 2005/2006 Champions League group phase having entered the competition in the first qualification round.

Liverpool’s task was easier as they were seeded in all three qualification rounds. The Reds beat Welsh club TNS FC 6-0 on aggregate, Lithuanians FBK Kaunas 5-1 and CSKA Sofia from Bulgaria 3-2 over two matches.

Slovakian club Artmedia Bratislava reached the next round after beating Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty 4-3 on aggregate in the first qualification round.

After this Artmedia Bratislava were unseeded but beat Celtic 5-4 on aggregate after a 5-0 win in the home leg and Partizan Belgrade 4-3 on penalties after two 0-0 draws.

Artmedia went on to third place in their group and Liverpool reached the last 16 of the tournament where they were knocked out by Benfica.

UEFA Champions League qualification – teams competing in first qualifying round

Qualification / Best teams

2007/2008 Three qualification rounds (28 teams) BATE Borisov, FK Sarajevo, Dinamo Zagreb, Tampere United, IF Elfsborg: 3rd qualification round
2006/2007 Three qualification rounds (22) Rabotnicki Skopje: 3rd qualification round
2005/2006 Three qualification rounds (24) Liverpool: Last 16
2004/2005 Three qualification rounds (20) HIT Gorica, Shelbourne: 3rd qualification round
2003/2004 Three qualification rounds (20) Vardar Skopje: 3rd qualification round
2002/2003 Three qualification rounds (20) APOEL Nicosia, Zeljeznicar Sarajevo: 3rd qualification round
2001/2002 Three qualification rounds (20) FC Haka: 3rd qualification round
2000/2001 Three qualification rounds (20) Crvena Zvezda, Zimbru Chisinau: 3rd qualification round
1999/2000 Three qualification rounds (18) Partizan Beograd, Skonto Riga, Zimbru Chisinau: 3rd qualification round
1998/1999 Two qualification rounds (32) Dynamo Kyiv: Semi-finals
1997/1998 Two qualification rounds (30) Dynamo Kyiv: Quarter-finals
1996/1997 All small nations in UEFA Cup
1995/1996 All small nations in UEFA Cup
1994/1995 All small nations in UEFA Cup
1993/1994 Prelim, 1st and 2nd rounds (20) 10 clubs: All eliminated in 1st round
1992/1993 Prelim, 1st and 2nd rounds (8) Four clubs: All eliminated in 1st round

Source: Infostrada Sports