UEFA Champions League results: Benfica, Maccabi Haifa and Viktoria Plzen advance past playoff round

Three teams set for the group stage with another three to come on Wednesday

The UEFA Champions League will return to the Middle East for the first time in seven years with Israel's Maccabi Haifa into the group stages after edging out Red Star Belgrade of Serbia.

Portuguese giants SL Benfica and Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen also made it through on a night of drama in Europe with more to follow on Wednesday as the play-offs reach their climax.

In the Champions Path, Maccabi led 3-2 from the first leg in Israel with Frantzdy Pierrot scoring twice, Dolev Hazizia providing three assists and Tjaronn Chery's superb strike clinching the win after Aleksandar Pesic and Guelor Kanga's goals for the Serbs had threatened an away win.