Rubin to battle Lyon for Champions League group stage

Russia’s Rubin Kazan will square up to French side Olympique Lyonnais in the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League, with the winner securing a place in the group stages. ­The draw, which consisted of ten clubs in each of the champions and league routes, took place in the European football governing body’s headquarter in Nyon, Switzerland. Rubin’s coach Kurban Berdyev confessed he wanted to face Arsenal in the playoffs, but the Russian Premier League bronze medalists are to be tested by the seven-times French League 1 champions instead.   “We have a very serious rival,” Berdyev told Rubin’s official website. “Lyon are regular participants in the Champions League group stages; a team with ambitions and good selection of players. Of course, it’ll be incredibly difficult to progress against such opposition. We will try to learn as much as possible about Lyon and enter the clash fully prepared. I understand it’s going to be tough, but there can be no easy rivals on this stage.” Meanwhile, Andrey Arshavin and his Gunners were drawn against Italy’s Udinese in what promises to be one of the most entertaining clashes of the round.   The ties are to take place on August 16 or 17 and conclude a week later with the winners joining the 22 automatic entrants in the group stage. UEFA Champions League playoff draw: Champions route Wis?a Kraków (POL) v APOEL FC (CYP) Macabi Haifa FC (ISR) v KRC Genk (BEL) NK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Malmö FF (SWE) FC København (DEN) v FC Viktoria Plze? (CZE) FC BATE Borisov (BLR) v SK Sturm Graz (AUT) League route Odense BK (DEN) v Villarreal CF (ESP) FC Twente (NED) v SL Benfica (POR) Arsenal FC (ENG) v Udinese Calcio (ITA) FC Bayern München (GER) v FC Zürich (SUI) Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v FC Rubin Kazan (RUS)