British clubs drew particularly tricky opponents during the UEFA Champions League second phase draw on Thursday. Liverpool is set to face third-place Ligue 1 finisher Toulouse while Arsenal drew Sparta Prague of the Czech First Division. Glasgow Celtic was dealt the most difficult opponent by far in Russian giant Spartak Moscow.
By any account, Toulouse barely qualified for the Champions League: the club benefited from the league awarding a win in a 0-0 draw with Nantes that was abandoned due to crowd trouble. Even so, ESPN Soccernet says the French club has excellent players, including Sweden striker Johan Elmander, who had been linked all summer with moves to Lyon and Manchester City. Liverpool could be in for a tough series. It should be smoother sailing for Arsenal, despite its opponent coming off domestic double last season. Few expect Sparta to pose many problems for Arsene Wenger’s men. However, the same can’t be said of Spartak Moscow against Celtic; last year’s Russian No. 2 is currently on top of the standings and likely to stay there.
If American winger DaMarcus Beasley and Glasgow Rangers can finish the job against FC Zeta (over which it holds a 2-0 first leg lead), the Scottish Premier League No. 2 will face the winner of the Red Star Belgrade/Levadia Tallin series. Freddy Adu and Benfica, meanwhile, have drawn the winner of FC Copenhagen and Beitar Jerusalem.