Thomas Doll's Hamburg face Osasuna (©Getty Images)

Coaches consider qualifying tasks

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German and Spanish clubs have met in two of the last six UEFA Champions League finals - and 1983 European title-winners Hamburger SV will take on competition debutants CA Osasuna for a place in the group stage after today's third qualifying round draw produced several intriguing ties.

'Tough task'
Hamburg may have the European pedigree as they aim to end a six-year group stage absence, but coach Thomas Doll warned: "This is a tough task. Osasuna are a strong side but last season we gained good experience against Spanish teams. We beat Valencia [CF in a 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup final], this time we will try the same against Osasuna. I'm convinced the boys will do so." Newly-appointed Osasuna coach Cuco Ziganda said: "We all know what kind of team Hamburg have, and about their history, but I'm sure we'll put up a good fight." Hamburg stage the first leg with the return a fortnight later in Spain.

Benfica prepare
Two other ties are already decided before the second qualifying round ends next Wednesday - 2005 champions Liverpool FC playing Maccabi Haifa FC and SL Benfica taking on FK Austria Wien, as the Portuguese side did when they began their successful defence of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1961/62. Benfica coach Fernando Santos said: "We have to deal seriously with Austria Wien as they are Austrian title-holders. Our staff we will be in Austria on Sunday to see their game and after that we'll have more details about the team." Benfica travel to Vienna for the first leg, and Austria coach Frenkie Schinkels revealed: "We had a list on which we put crosses next to who we would have liked to play at home first. Benfica was not among them. However, it is not a disadvantage."

I am very unhappy, I hoped only to avoid Arsenal, only that, and we get Arsenal.Josip Kuže, Dinamo Zagreb coach

Kuže rues Arsenal draw
Last season's runners-up Arsenal FC meet either Lithuania's FK Ekranas or NK Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia, with the second leg to be the first European tie at their new Ashburton Grove home. Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein said: "Ideally we would like to start a bit later on but we are in the qualifiers and we have to deal with it." Dinamo coach Josip Kuže, whose team lead Ekranas 4-1 with their home leg to follow, admitted: "I am very unhappy, I hoped only to avoid Arsenal, only that, and we get Arsenal. In my opinion, they are the best competition team in the world. They have great individual talent in the perfect system. We need to have faith and hope to have a lot of luck and other circumstances on our side, then we can win with God's help