The six-times European champions were initially thrown out of the flagship competition after being found guilty in the Serie A match-fixing scandal, only to have their punishment reduced by an Italian soccer appeals court.

Red Star, themselves former champions of Europe, completed a 4-0 aggregate victory over Irish side Cork City after a 3-0 victory in the Serbian capital on Wednesday.

Two close-range headers by international striker Nikola Zigic and a superb volley from midfielder Dejan Milovanovic handed Red Star a comfortable victory.

Dynamo Kiev and Fenerbahce will meet for a place in the lucrative group stages after crushing lowly opposition on Wednesday.

Kiev beat Latvian champions Metalurgs 4-0 to seal an 8-1 aggregate victory, Ruslan Rotan scoring twice.

Turkish club Fenerbahce, coached by Brazilian Zico, finished off B36 of the Faroe Islands in style, winning the away leg 5-0 for a 9-0 aggregate triumph.

Dinamo Zagreb will provide the opposition for last season's beaten finalists Arsenal after beating Lithuanians Ekranas 5-2 in Croatia, building on their 4-1 victory in the away leg.

Spartak Moscow squeezed into the third qualifying round on away goals after a 0-0 draw in the Russian capital against Moldovan champions Sherif. The first leg had ended 1-1.

Spartak will now face Czech side Slovan Liberec.

Danish champion FC Copenhagen set up a third qualifying round clash with former champions Ajax after drawing 2-2 with Finnish side MyPa 47 having won 2-0 at home.

Scottish club Hearts are just one round away from the group phase after holding out for a 0-0 draw in Bosnia against Siroki Brijeg, protecting their 3-0 advantage from the first leg.

Levski Sofia kept alive their dream of becoming the first Bulgarian club to compete in the Champions League group stage when they beat Sioni Bolnisi of Georgia 2-0 at home for a 4-0 aggregate victory.

The first legs of the third qualifying round will be played on August 8-9 with the returns on August 22-23.

The 16 winners of the ties will join the 16 automatic qualifiers for the group stage that starts on September 12/13.