As the World Cup frenzy subsides, the Champions League has kicked off again, but without Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, who is still basking in the glory of Cape Verde's impressive run in the tournament.
In the first qualifying round, a total of 10 games were played on Tuesday, with the first goal of the season being scored by 41-year-old Nano, a left back for Lincoln Red Imps, in a match held in Gibraltar.
Lopes, who has been with Shamrock Rovers since 2016, returned to Dublin on Monday, just three days after Cape Verde's thrilling 3-2 loss to defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi in the round of 32 at Miami Gardens.
Shamrock Rovers, Lopes' team, suffered a 2-0 loss to Floriana in the first leg in Malta, and Lopes expressed his disappointment at missing the game, saying 'I’ll miss the game in Malta, unfortunately, but I’m looking forward to getting back into training and getting back to doing what I love.'
The team will host the second leg next Tuesday, giving Lopes a chance to rejoin his teammates and make a difference in the competition.
Champions League Action in Unlikely Destinations
On Tuesday, Champions League action unfolded in several soccer nations that have not qualified for the World Cup, including Gibraltar, San Marino, and the Faroe Islands, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has participated in the tournament.
Bosnian champion Borac Banja Luka played out a 1-1 draw against Levski Sofia in the first leg, but without its only World Cup participant, 18-year-old goalkeeper Mladen Jurkas.
In Gibraltar, Lincoln Red Imps emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Inter Club d’Escaldes of Andorra, thanks in part to a 16th-minute penalty scored by Nano.
Kairat Almaty's Return to the Champions League
Four more games are scheduled for Wednesday, including matches in Estonia, Moldova, and Kazakhstan, where Kairat Almaty will begin its campaign in the first qualifying round.
Kairat Almaty has a notable history in the competition, having reached the lucrative main phase in the previous edition and faced off against top teams like Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Inter Milan.
Belarus champion Vitebsk will host its 'home' game in neutral Hungary, but without any fans in attendance, due to UEFA's prohibition on Belarusian teams hosting games since Russia's full military invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russian teams remain suspended from all European competitions, including the Champions League, as a result of the ongoing conflict.
The Conference League Gets Underway
In addition to the Champions League, games also kicked off on Tuesday in the first qualifying round of the third-tier Conference League, with matches taking place in Albania and Luxembourg.
The second-tier Europa League is set to start on Thursday, featuring teams that often compete in the Champions League main phase, including Qarabaq, Dynamo Kyiv, and Ferencvaros.
