Slovan and Red Star Belgrade advance to Champions League third qualifying round

Slovan Bratislava and Red Star Belgrade, the clubs of Armenia internationals Tigran Barseghyan and Nair Tiknizyan respectively, have progressed from the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

Barseghyan missed both matches against Georgia’s Iberia due to injury. The Slovak champions won the first leg 2–0 before drawing the return match 1–1, advancing 3–1 on aggregate.

In the third qualifying round, Barseghyan’s side will face Swedish champions Mjällby.

Tiknizyan started Red Star’s first match against Northern Ireland’s Larne and played 73 minutes. In the second leg, 16-year-old Matej Strik replaced the Armenian defender in the starting line-up. Tiknizyan came on in the 64th minute.

The Serbian club recorded two convincing victories, winning 4–0 and 5–0 to advance 9–0 on aggregate. Red Star will face Israel’s Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the next round.

Slovan and Red Star will both be seeded in the draw and could become potential opponents for Ararat-Armenia in the Champions League or Europa League play-off round.