Youngsters Fernandez, Araujo help Benfica into Champions League play-offs

Paris (AFP) – Two-time former champions Benfica beat Mitjylland 3-1 on Tuesday to win 7-2 on aggregate and reach the final Champions League qualifying play-off round.

Young midfielder Enzo Fernandez and 20-year-old striker Henrique Araujo scored before Pione Sisto responded for the Danes.

Argentinian Fernandez, 21, and Araujo were making just their second European appearances as Diogo Goncalves claimed the third for the 1961 and 1962 winners.

Earlier, Moldovans Sheriff Tiraspol, who stunned Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu during last season’s group stages, were knocked out by Viktoria Plzen as the Czech outfit won 4-2 on aggregate.

Later, Scottish side Rangers trail Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 with the Belgian outfit making their first appearance in European competition since 1964-65.

PSV Eindhoven and Monaco are level 1-1 which is also the score between Sturm Graz and Dynamo Kiyv, who were second in the Ukrainian Premier League when Russia invaded the country earlier this year.

The first leg of the play-offs take place on August 16 with the return fixtures eighth days later.