Benfica tackle Anderlecht in top Champions League match

Porto midfielder Dmitri Alenitchev runs with the Champions League trophy. Benfica take on Anderlecht in the plum pick of the third and final qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

Benfica take on Anderlecht in the plum pick of the third and final qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

Benfica were champions of Europe in 1961 and 1962, while Anderlecht won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1976 and 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1983.

Benfica managing director Jose Veiga said: "All matches in European competitions are difficult and we will not have an easy time.

"Benfica have reinforced ahead of the new season as our goal is to stay in this competition as long as possible."

Anderlecht business manager Herman van Holsbeeck added: "Benfica and Anderlecht have played great matches in the past and they were always very exciting and compepitive games."

The two biggest names in the draw were English giants Manchester United and nine-times European champions Real Madrid.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side will face either Slovakian champions MSK Zilina or Romanian champions Dinamo Bucharest while Madrid will start their 2004/05 European campaign away against either Georgia's FC WIT Georgia or Poland's Wisla Krakow.

Rafael Benitez stars his new era at Liverpool with an away tie to Graz AK in Austria.

The winners of the 16 ties will take their place in the Champions League group stage.

The 16 clubs already assured of a place in the group stage are Porto, Valencia, Barcelona, AC Milan, AS Roma, Arsenal, Chelsea, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Paris Saint Germain, Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, Ajax, Celtic and Fenerbahce.

UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round drawn Friday:

Graz AK (AUT) v Liverpool (ENG)

Juventus (ITA) v Djurgardens (SWE) or Kaunas (LIT)

KF Tirana (ALB) or Ferencvaros (HUN) v APOEL (CYP) or Sparta Prague (CZE)

Rosenborg (NOR) or Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL) V Maccabi Haifa (ISR)

Bayer Leverkusen (GER) v Banik Ostrava (CZE)

Neftchi Bakou (AZE) or CSKA Moscow (RUS) v Glasgow Rangers (SCO)

Pyunik Erevan (ARM) or Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Club Brugge (BEL) or Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL)

Dynamo Kiev (UKR) v Skonto Riga (LAT) or Trabzonspor (TUR)

Young Boys Berne (SWI) or Red Star Belgrade (SEM) v PSV Eindhoven (NED)

MSK Zilina (SVK) or Dinamo Bucharest (ROM) v Manchester United (ENG)

FC Basel (SWI) v Inter Milan (ITA)

Benfica (POR) v Anderlecht (BEL)

Deportivo La Coruna (SPA) v Hajduk Split (CRO) or Shelbourne (IRL)

PAOK Salonika (GRE) v HJK Helsinki (FIN) or Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)

Gorica (SLO) or FC Copenhagen (DEN) v Monaco (FRA)

WIT Georgia (GEO) or Wisla Krakow (POL) v Real Madrid (ESP)

First leg: 10/11 August 2004

Second leg: 24/25 August 2004