The second qualifying round of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League commenced on Tuesday, with various clubs striving for advantageous positions in their first-leg matches. Notably, Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk secured direct entry into the league stage, bypassing the qualifying rounds entirely.

Key Results from the Opening Matches

The first day of the second qualifying round saw a blend of anticipated wins and surprising outcomes. Lech Poznań achieved a significant away victory, defeating Danish team Aarhus 4-1. Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda also enjoyed a commanding performance, securing a 4-0 win against Larne in Northern Ireland. Sturm Graz made a strong case for advancing to the third qualifying round with a dominant 4-0 home victory over Hearts, while Swedish side Mjällby triumphed 3-0 against Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps.

Other notable results included Slovan Bratislava's comfortable 2-0 away win over Georgian side Iberia 1999, Ararat-Armenia's 2-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers, and Sabah's narrow 1-0 win against Finland's KuPS. Fenerbahçe edged out Poland's Górnik Zabrze with a 1-0 victory, while Dinamo Zagreb was held to a 1-1 draw by Swiss side Thun. The match between KI Klaksvík and Kauno Žalgiris ended in a goalless draw, and Iceland's Víkingur Reykjavik claimed a 2-1 win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

Looking Ahead

The ongoing qualifying campaign follows an eventful opening round, where several teams pulled off upsets. Irish side Shamrock Rovers made headlines by overturning a two-goal deficit to eliminate Floriana with a 5-1 victory. Levski Sofia advanced decisively after defeating Borac 4-0, and Ararat completed a dramatic comeback against FK Riga after losing the first leg.

Ultimately, seven clubs will qualify for the Champions League league stage, joining the 29 teams that have already secured automatic entry. Shakhtar Donetsk is among those teams, having booked their place directly in the competition. The second-leg matches of this round will continue this week, featuring Omonia against Kairat, Levski Sofia facing Universitatea Craiova, and Egnatia meeting Celje. The winners will progress to the third qualifying round, while the losing teams will shift their focus to the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds.