Red Star and PAOK advance in Champions League qualifying

Former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade reached the Champions League third qualifying round with a 1-0 win at FC Tirana and they were joined by PAOK Salonika who beat Besiktas Istanbul 3-1 at home

Red Star, who won Europe’s elite club competition in 1991, rode their luck in the Albanian capital and advanced thanks to a 61st-minute header by Portuguese striker Tomane after visiting goalkeeper Milan Borjan had made a string of good saves.

PAOK raced into a 2-0 lead against Besiktas thanks to a Christos Tzolis brace, who capped a raid down the left flank with a fine finish into the top corner before he bundled in the second from close range.

Dimitrios Pelkas made it 3-0 as he rounded off a swift break with a tap-in.