The first leg in Poland last week ended 2-1 in favour of Rakow thanks to Vladyslav Kocherin's opener inside the opening seven minutes and Fabian Piasecki's 63rd-minute penalty kick.
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Aris Limassol will host Rakow Czestochowa in the second leg of their third qualifying round of UEFA Champions League at Alphamega Stadium on Tuesday. The first leg in Poland last week ended 2-1 in favour of Rakow thanks to Vladyslav Kocherin’s opener inside the opening seven minutes and Fabian Piasecki’s 63rd-minute penalty kick. Meanwhile the Cypriot club grabbed a lifeline with a late effort from South African attacker Mihlali Mayambela, which keeps them within touching distance ahead of the return leg in front of their own supporters. The winner of this fixture will go on to face either Copenhagen or Sparta Prague in the final stage of the qualification before the hallowed group phase.
✈️ Lecimy na Cypr! 🔴🔵#ARIRCZ 🔜 pic.twitter.com/SJyEISB03C
— Raków Częstochowa 🥇 (@Rakow1921) August 14, 2023
Aris Limassol started their Champions League qualification campaign with a thumping 11-5 aggregate victory over Belarusian champions BATE Borisov in the second round last month. AEL defeated BATE 5-3 in the second leg at Mezokovesdi Varosi Stadion thanks to goals from Shavy Babicka, Yannick Gomis, Caju, Leo Bengtsson and Mariusz Stepinski. The Light Brigade earned a spot in the Champions League qualification courtesy of winning the Cypriot top division title last term, and as they are yet to kickoff their title-defence, Aleksey Shpilevsky’s side have been able to recharge and prepare on home soil for this week’s home leg against Rakow, who are already three games into the Ekstraklasa season.
Rakow are heading into the match on the back of a 2-1 league-win away to Piast Gliwice at the weekend, thanks to Patryk Dziczek’s 72nd-minute opener from the penalty spot and Zoran Arsenic’s dramatic own goal four minutes into the injury time. It was the Medallions’ first triumph from three top tier games this season. Meanwhile, when it comes to the continental stage, Dawid Szwarga’s side have so far eliminated Flora Tallinn and Qarabag in the qualifiers. Having won the Polish top flight title for the first time last season, the Midaliki are potentially just three games away from a remarkable group stage debut in Europe’s elite club football competition.
Aris Limassol probable starting lineup: Vana, Boakye, Brorsson, Yago, Caju, Struski, Szoke, Stepinski, Gomis, Bengtsson, Mayambela
Rakow Czestochowa probable starting lineup: V. Kovacevic, Svarnas, Arsenic, A. Kovacevic, Sorescu, Berggren, Papanikolaou, Plavsic, Kochergin, Piasecki, Carlos
Aris Limassol
| Opponents | Score |
| Rakow | 2-1 (L) |
| BATE | 3-4 (W) |
| BATE | 6-2 (W) |
| Omonia | 2-0 (W) |
| Austria Vienna | 1-1 (D) |
Rakow Czestochowa
| Opponents | Score |
| Piast Gliwice | 2-1 (L) |
| Aris | 2-1 (W) |
| Warta Poznan | 2-2 (D) |
| Qarabag | 1-1 (D) |
| Qarabag | 3-2 (W) |
| Last match-result | Score |
| Rakow beat Aris | 2-1 |
The Champions League qualifier between Aris Limassol and Rakow Czestochowa will take place at Alphamega Stadium on Tuesday at 10:30 pm IST.
| Aris Limassol vs Rakow Czestochowa | Key Details |
| Date | August 15 |
| Venue | Alphamega Stadium |
| Kickoff time in Cyprus | 8:00 pm |
| Kickoff time in Poland | 7:00 pm |
| Kickoff time in India | 10:30 pm |
Football fans in UK can watch the match on discovery + network and TVT Sports 4. Meanwhile, those in Cyprus can catch the live action via Cytavision network.
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