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Liverpool cruise past Hoffenheim into group stages; CSKA, Sporting through

Liverpool and Sporting Lisbon both went on scoring sprees as they reached the group stage of this season's Champions League.

Liverpool, 2-1 up from the first leg against Hoffenheim, made sure they would progress by scoring three goals during the first 21 minutes at Anfield.

Emre Can opened their account, before Mohamed Salah added a second and then Can struck again to leave Hoffenheim facing a potential horror show.

The German side replied before half-time through a Mark Uth goal, only for Roberto Firmino to make it 4-1 before Sandro Wagner grabbed a Hoffenheim consolation 11 minutes from time as Liverpool progressed 6-3 on aggregate.

The result ensures England will be represented by five teams when the draw for the group stages is made.

Sporting went one better in Romania, crushing FCSB 5-1 following a goalless first leg.

Seydou Doumbia put Sporting ahead after 13 minutes, but when Junior Morais equalised seven minutes later there was no indication of the one-sided second period to follow.

Steaua subsided during the final 30 minutes, conceding four goals as Sporting cut loose with Marcos Acuna, Gelson Martins, Bas Dost and Rodrigo Battaglia ensuring the Portuguese side powered into the pool draw.

Azerbaijan challengers Qarabag went through following a tense play-off tie away to FC Copenhagen.

Qarabag took a one-goal advantage with them to Denmark, but they fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Federico Santander netted.

They looked to have eased their nerves, though, when Dino Ndlovu equalised in the 63rd minute, only for Copenhagen to regain the lead just three minutes later through Andrija Pavlovic.

It set up a tight closing 25 minutes, but Copenhagen could not score again, meaning the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate with Qarabag progressing on away goals and becoming the first team from their country to make the Champions League group stage.

CSKA Moscow, meanwhile, were always in control of their play-off clash against Young Boys at the VEB Arena.

Having won the away leg 1-0, CSKA were rarely troubled by their opponents as goals from Georgi Schennikov and Alan Dzagoev ensured a comfortable passage 3-0 on aggregate.

And the playoff picture was completed in Prague, where Apoel Nicosia arrived with a two-goal advantage from the first leg, and they were able to preserve that comfortable cushion despite Slavia Prague's best efforts as the tie finished 0-0.