2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup Begins

The 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup's first round will come to a close this weekend. The first round is comprised of 28 clubs who played first leg matches on 21 June and 22 June 2008 and will now complete the second leg.

Three matches of note from this weekend's second leg:

Welsh side Rhyl F.C needs to score against Irish outfit Bohemian F.C. After a 5-1 first leg victory, Bohemian holds a commanding edge. Slovenia's ND Gorica is up 3-0 having scored three away goals at the home ground of Maltese football club Hibernians F.C. And Swedish side IF Elfsborg has a three-goal advantage after a 4-1 defeat of Havnar Bóltfelag in the Faroe Islands.

Teams advancing to the second and third rounds will find the likes of Sivasspor, Grasshopper-Club Zürich, Odense BK, Hibernian F.C., Rosenborg BK, VfB Stuttgart, and Aston Villa waiting for a chance to qualify for the 2008-2009 UEFA Cup. 11 teams will qualify for the UEFA Cup via the Intertoto Cup.

Norwegian international Morten Gamst Pedersen in action with Blackburn Rovers during the 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Image details: Blackburn Rovers v FK Vetra served by picapp.com