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AC Milan await winners of Cork clash

Damien Richardson could get to lead his side out at the San Siro in Milan but only Cork can come from behind to beat Red Star in Belgrade
Damien Richardson could get to lead his side out at the San Siro in Milan but only Cork can come from behind to beat Red Star in Belgrade

Cork City will meet AC Milan in the third qualifying round of this season's Champions League, but only if they can overturn a 1-0 deficit in next week's away leg against Red Star Belgrade.

Although, AC Milan's involvement in the tournament is still subject to FIFA approval.

The Rossoneri, who have only been allowed by UEFA to enter the draw on a 'provisional basis' because of the club's involvement in Italy's match-fixing scandal, are scheduled to play at home in the first leg before travelling for the return fixture two weeks later.

European football's governing body will announce on August 2 whether the Serie A side, who have won the competition six times, are allowed to play in this year's tournament.

Elsewhere in the draw, Liverpool will face awkward opposition in the form of Maccabi Haifa from Israel although the away leg is sure to be played outside of Israel as Haifa is close to the border of Israel and the Lebanon.

Arsenal play the winners of Ekranes (Lithuania) or Dynamo Zagreb (Croatia), while Hearts should progress to face AEK Athens.

The draw for the third qualifying round of the 2006/07 Champions League is as follows:

Sheriff Tiraspol/Spartak Moscow v Slovan Liberec
Shakhtar Donetsk v FH Hafnarfjordur/Legia Warsaw
FC Zurich/Salzburg v Valencia
Levski Sofia/Sioni v Chievo
Hearts/Siroki Brijeg v AEK Athens
CSKA Moscow v Djurgarden/Ruzomberok
AC Milan v Cork/Red Star Belgrade
Galatasaray v Mlada Boleslav/Valerenga
Standard Liege v Gorica/Steaua Bucharest
Austria Vienna v Benfica
Ekranas/Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal
FC Copenhagen/MyPa v Ajax
Hamburg v Osasuna
Metalurgs/Dynamo Kiev v Fenerbahce/B36 Torshavn
Liverpool v Maccabi Haifa
Lille v Debrecen/Rabotnicki

First-leg matches will be played on August 8/9 with the return legs taking place on August 23/24.

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