Three former European champions progress

Red Star, Ajax and Celtic sail into third round

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Former European champions Red Star Belgrade, Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic all made it comfortably through to the third qualifying round of the Champions League on Wednesday after surviving away legs.

Yet FC Basel, group stage regulars in the last few seasons, were knocked out after a humiliating 3-0 home defeat by PAOK which came less than one week after they sacked coach Raphael Wicky.

Veteran striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice while Dusan Tadic was also on target in a 3-1 win for Ajax away to Austria’s Sturm Graz in their second round, second leg tie. Their 5-1 aggregate win earned them a meeting with Standard Liege.

The only unhappy note for the four-time European champions was an embarrassing own goal by goalkeeper Andre Onana who failed to control a back pass and instead deflected the ball into the net in the 89th minute.

Breakaway goals by El Fardou Ben Nabouhane and Nemanja Radonjic in the first half gave Red Star a 2-0 win away to Lithuanian champions Suduva Marijampole as the Serbs completed a 5-0 aggregate win.

Meanwhile, a goalless draw away to Norway’s Rosenborg was enough for Scottish champions Celtic, who qualified thanks to their 3-1 win in the home leg last week and will meet AEK Athens.

Basel, who beat Manchester United on the way to reaching the round of 16 last season, never recovered after leaving Fernando Varela unmarked to score from a corner in the seventh minute at home to PAOK.

Azeri champions Qarabag, who made their group stage debut last season, beat Albanians Kukes 3-0 with two penalties converted by Spaniard Dani Quintana and a late goal from Dzon Delarge.

The visitors had defender Albi Alla sent off early in the second half for giving away another penalty which was missed by Innocent Emeghara.