Scottish champions Celtic withstood a furious fightback from Hapoel Beer-Sheva to reach the Champions League group stage on Tuesday (Aug 23) despite a 2-0 defeat in Israel, while Porto beat nine-man Roma 3-0 to advance.

Leading 5-2 from last week’s first play-off leg in Glasgow, Celtic were made to sweat in the Israeli desert with goals from Ben Sahar and Ovidiu Hoban setting up a nervy finish.

However, Brendan Rodgers’ side held on to progress 5-4 on aggregate and qualify for the group stage for the first time in three seasons, with Maharan Radi’s first-half penalty miss proving particularly costly for the Israeli champions.

Joining Celtic in Thursday’s draw will be two-time former winners Porto after the Portuguese giants punished Roma for their indiscipline in the Italian capital, after the first leg finished 1-1.

Felipe headed Porto into an eighth-minute lead but Roma lost captain Daniele de Rossi to a straight red card before the break after a wild lunge on Maxi Pereira, with Emerson Palmieri dismissed just after half-time following another crude tackle.

Two quick-fire goals from Mexico internationals Miguel Layun and Jesus Corona then rubberstamped Porto’s place in the group stage.

A stoppage time penalty from Fabinho handed Monaco a 3-1 aggregate victory over Villarreal, with Legia Warsaw ending the dreams of Irish champions Dundalk as a 1-1 draw sent the Polish club through 3-1 overall.

Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria advanced 4-2 on aggregate over Viktoria Plzen following a 2-2 draw in the Czech Republic.

On Wednesday, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will look to finish off Steaua Bucharest after a resounding 5-0 victory in Romania last time out.

European Champions League second-leg play-off round:

Roma (ITA) 0 Porto (POR) 3
(Porto win 4-1 on aggregate)

Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) 2 Celtic (SCO) 0
(Celtic win 5-4 on aggregate)

Legia Warsaw (POL) 1 Dundalk (IRL) 1
(Legia Warsaw win 3-1 on aggregate)

Monaco (FRA) 1 Villarreal (ESP) 0
(Monaco win 3-1 on aggregate)

Viktoria Plzen (CZE) 2 Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) 2
(Ludogorets Razgrad win 4-2 on aggregate)

Source AFP