PARIS: Four-time European champions Ajax laboured to a 1-1 draw at home to Greek side PAOK in the first leg of Tuesday’s Champions League third qualifying round, while Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk overcame Swiss outfit Young Boys 2-0.

Djalma Campos handed PAOK a first-half lead in Amsterdam, and although Kasper Dolberg equalised before the hour, Ajax still face a tricky task heading into next week’s second leg in Thessaloniki.

In Lviv, Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Young Boys with goals in either half from Brazil international Bernard and Ukraine striker Yevhen Seleznyov with the visitors having Milan Vilotic sent off.

BATE Borisov of Belarus, who are seeking to reach the group stage for the fifth time in six seasons, beat Irish outfit Dundalk 1-0, while Croation champions Dinamo Zagreb eased past Georgia’s Dinamo Tbilisi 2-0.

Rostov, last year’s surprise Russian Premier League runners-up, twice fought back from a goal down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Belgian club Anderlecht in their Champions League debut.

On Wednesday, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic make the long trip to Kazakhstan to face Astana, who made their group stage debut in last year’s competition.

Fenerbahce host 2004 finalists Monaco in an intriguing third-round tie, while Olympiakos are at home to Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel.

Champions League third qualifying round, first leg results on Tuesday:

BATE Borisov (BLR) 1-0 Dundalk (IRL), Ludogorets (BUL) 2-2 Red Star Belgrade (SRB), Sparta Prague (CZE) 1-1 Steaua Bucharest (ROM), Partizani (ALB) 0-1 Salzburg (AUT), Viktoria Plzen (CZE) 0-0 Qarabag (AZE), Rostov (RUS) 2-2 Anderlecht (BEL), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 2-0 Young Boys (SUI), Ajax (NED) 1-1 PAOK (GRE), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 2-0 Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO).

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2016