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1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup

The 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup was the second edition of the summer tournament organized by , featuring 60 clubs from across its member associations in a preliminary competition that awarded three qualification spots for the . The tournament ran from 22 June to 20 August 1996, structured around an initial group stage comprising 12 groups of five teams each, where clubs played a single format over five matchdays to determine the 12 group winners. These winners then advanced to a knockout phase, including semifinals on 27–31 July and finals on 6 and 20 August, ultimately crowning three overall victors: of , of , and of . All three winners progressed to the first round of the Cup, with notably advancing further to the third round before elimination, highlighting the competition's role in providing mid-tier clubs an opportunity for exposure during the off-season. The event marked an expansion from the previous year's two UEFA Cup spots, reflecting growing interest in the Intertoto as a revenue-generating and competitive bridge to UEFA's flagship club competitions.

Tournament Overview

Format and Rules

The 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup was structured as a preliminary summer competition designed to provide additional opportunities for clubs from mid-tier national leagues. It featured 60 participating teams divided into 12 groups of five teams each, with the tournament serving as a pathway to the Cup. In the group stage, each team played four matches: two home games and two away games against two designated opponents within their group, rather than a full format. This partial schedule allowed for a condensed during the summer off-season. Standings were determined by points (three for a win, one for a draw), with tiebreakers applied based on , goals scored, and head-to-head results if necessary. The winner of each group advanced to the , resulting in 12 qualifiers. The knockout stage consisted of semifinals and finals, both conducted over two legs (). In the semifinals, the 12 group winners were paired into six ties, with the six aggregate winners progressing to the finals round. The finals featured three separate two-legged ties among the remaining teams. The was employed to decide tied aggregates; if still level after extra time (two periods of ), matches proceeded to penalty shoot-outs. The three winners of the finals advanced to the first round of the . General UEFA competition rules governed the tournament, including eligibility restrictions to ensure clubs had not qualified for the Champions League or UEFA Cup via domestic leagues, and a maximum of three entrants per association based on UEFA country coefficients. Matches were scheduled primarily on weekends in July and early August to avoid clashing with national league preparations. No overall champion was crowned, as the competition's primary purpose was UEFA Cup qualification rather than a standalone title.

Dates and Statistics

The 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup took place over the summer months, commencing on 22 June 1996 with the first round of group stage matches and concluding on 20 August 1996 with the final ties. The group stage spanned from late June to mid-July, featuring initial fixtures on 22–23 June and subsequent rounds up to 20–21 July, while the knockout phase included semifinals on 27–31 July and finals on 6 August and 20 August. This scheduling aligned with the pre-season period for clubs, allowing participation without conflicting with domestic leagues. The tournament involved 60 teams from across , divided into 12 groups of five, where each team played four matches (two home and two away against selected opponents to reduce travel demands). A total of 138 matches were contested, resulting in 430 goals scored at an average of 3.12 goals per match. Home teams secured victory in 47% of games, with 16% ending in draws and 35% away wins; disciplinary records showed 123 yellow cards and 12 red cards issued across the competition. The 12 group winners advanced to the knockout stage, which consisted of six two-legged semifinal ties followed by three two-legged final ties, determining the three overall winners: (), (), and (). These winners qualified for the first round of the , marking the competition's primary objective of providing additional European access. The event highlighted offensive play, with notable goal tallies in groups like Group 3 (Örebro SK's 12 goals in four matches) underscoring the tournament's competitive intensity.
Key StatisticValue
Participating Teams
Total Matches138
Total Goals430
Goals per Match3.12
Home Wins47%
Draws16%
Away Wins35%
Yellow Cards123
Red Cards12

Participating Teams

Qualification Process

The qualification for the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup was determined by the UEFA coefficients of member associations from the 1995/96 season, which allocated a varying number of spots to each country based on their ranking. Higher-ranked associations, such as (ranked among the top eight), were permitted to enter multiple teams directly into the group stage, while lower-ranked ones typically entered one team each. In total, teams from 31 associations participated, divided into 12 groups of five for the initial phase. Within each association, entrants were selected from top-division clubs that had finished in positions below those qualifying for the or , prioritizing the highest-placed eligible teams in their domestic leagues the previous season. For instance, Germany's four entrants included (7th in the ), (8th), (9th), and (10th), reflecting the allocation for a top-ranked nation. Similarly, , another high-ranked association, entered four teams: (7th in Division 1), Stade Rennes (8th), RC Strasbourg (9th), and (10th). Lower-ranked associations, such as or , received one spot each, typically awarded to their league runners-up or equivalent if higher positions were taken by other . Clubs had to meet UEFA's general eligibility criteria, including holding a valid license from their national association and not being involved in other European competitions that season. The process ensured a broad representation across , with no association exceeding its allocated quota. This allocation system aimed to balance competitiveness while providing opportunities for mid-table clubs from stronger leagues alongside representatives from emerging associations.

List of Qualified Teams

The 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured 60 teams from across , selected primarily based on their domestic league performances from the , with allocations determined by UEFA's country coefficients and rankings. These teams were drawn into 12 groups of five, competing in a format during late and early July 1996. The winners of each group advanced to the knockout stage, ultimately qualifying three teams for the first round. The qualified teams, organized by their assigned groups, are as follows:
GroupTeams (with countries)
1Standard Liège (Belgium), AaB (Denmark), VfB Stuttgart (Germany), Hapoel Haifa (Israel), Cliftonville (Northern Ireland) – the first Irish League team to reach the group stage of a European competition.
2LASK Linz (Austria), Werder Bremen (Germany), Djurgårdens IF (Sweden), Apollon Limassol (Cyprus), B 68 (Faroe Islands)
3Örebro SK (Sweden), FC København (Denmark), Branik Maribor (Slovenia), Austria Wien (Austria), Keflavík (Iceland)
4Silkeborg IF (Denmark), Zagłębie Lubin (Poland), SC Charleroi (Belgium), SV Ried (Austria), Conwy United (Wales) – who earned a notable 0-0 draw against Charleroi on 29 June 1996.
5FC Nantes (France), Lillestrøm SK (Norway), SC Heerenveen (Netherlands), FBK Kaunas (Lithuania), Sligo Rovers (Ireland)
6Segesta Sisak (Croatia), Örgryte IS (Sweden), FC Luzern (Switzerland), Stade Rennes (France), Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)
7Rotor Volgograd (Russia), FC Basel (Switzerland), Antalyaspor (Turkey), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Ataka-Aura Minsk (Belarus)
8KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny (Russia), TSV 1860 München (Germany), Kaučuk Opava (Czech Republic), Spartak Varna (Bulgaria), ŁKS Łódź (Poland)
9Karlsruher SC (Germany), Universitatea Craiova (Romania), Spartak Trnava (Slovakia), Daugava Rīga (Latvia), FK Čukarički (FR Yugoslavia)
10Lierse SK (Belgium), Vasas SC (Hungary), FC Groningen (Netherlands), Gaziantepspor (Turkey), JK Narva Trans (Estonia)
11Uralmash Yekaterinburg (Russia; group winners who advanced to the semi-finals), CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria), RC Strasbourg (France), Kocaelispor (Turkey), Hibernians (Malta)
12En Avant Guingamp (France), FK Zemun (FR Yugoslavia), FF Jaro (Finland), FC Dinamo București (Romania), Kolkheti-1913 Poti (Georgia)
This distribution reflected UEFA's emphasis on including clubs from lower-ranked associations to promote broader European competition, with higher-ranked nations like and contributing multiple entrants.

Group Stage

Draw and Seeding

The draw for the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup was conducted by to assign the 60 qualified teams into 12 groups of five teams each, forming the basis of the tournament's group stage. This allocation ensured a single format within each group, where teams played one match (home or away) against each of the other four opponents over five matchdays from 22 June to 20 July. Seeding was determined using the UEFA association coefficients from the 1990/91 to 1994/95 seasons, mirroring the methodology applied to other European competitions like the UEFA Cup. Higher-ranked associations received priority placement for their representatives, with the top team from each association typically seeded as the group head to promote competitive balance and avoid clustering of strong sides. For instance, associations such as Germany, Belgium, and Denmark had their leading entrants (e.g., VfB Stuttgart as Germany's top seed in Group 1) distributed across different groups. Lower-ranked associations' teams filled the remaining spots. The seeded structure facilitated the advancement of the 12 group winners directly to a knockout phase, where further draws would pair them for semifinals, ultimately qualifying the top three performers for the preliminary round. This seeding approach prioritized merit-based distribution while accommodating the tournament's summer scheduling constraints.

Group 1

Group 1 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: from , AaB from , from , Hapoel Haifa from , and from [Northern Ireland](/page/Northern Ireland). The group operated as a single where each team played every other once (four matches each), with fixtures scheduled across five rounds from late to mid-July. , as the nominal host association representative, aimed to top the group to secure a spot in the subsequent UEFA Cup first round. The opening round on 22–23 June saw Cliftonville host Standard Liège, resulting in a 0–3 away win for the Belgian side, with goals from Frédéric Ciccolini, Frédéric Daquin, and . In the parallel match, AaB edged Hapoel Haifa 5–4 at home, highlighted by a dramatic finish where Andreas Jakobsen scored twice late on. The second round on 29–30 June delivered Stuttgart's 0–1 home defeat to AaB, courtesy of a lone strike from Erik , while Hapoel Haifa drew 1–1 with , with Itzik netting for the hosts and Dixie Dempster equalizing. Progressing to 6–7 July, Cliftonville suffered a 1–4 thrashing by away, where scored a for the Germans, and added one, with Tommy Hamill's penalty as the lone consolation. then played out a 2–2 draw against Hapoel Haifa at home, with Wilmots and Daquin scoring for the hosts, matched by Zohar and Alon Hazan for the visitors. The fourth round on 13–14 July featured 's 2–0 victory over away, goals from Ciccolini and Wilmots sealing the points, alongside AaB's 4–0 rout of at home, where Jakobsen and Poul Hansen each scored twice. The final round on 20 July concluded with Stuttgart's emphatic 4–0 win at Hapoel Haifa, Bobic again starring with two goals alongside efforts from Zorc and Thomas Hieke, and Standard Liège's narrow 1–0 home triumph over AaB via a second-half penalty from Wilmots. These results propelled to the group summit with three wins and one draw, advancing them to the Intertoto Cup's knockout phase and ultimately the Cup. AaB finished strongly in second, just one point adrift, while claimed third on over the lower-placed sides.

Final Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1431082+610
2AaB4301105+59
3420284+46
4Hapoel Haifa4022712−52
54013212−101
Source:

Group 2

Group 2 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: Austrian side LASK Linz, German club Werder Bremen, Swedish team , Cypriot outfit Apollon Limassol, and Faroese representatives B 68 Toftir. The group operated on a format, with each team playing the others once across five matchdays from late June to mid-July, determining the winner who would advance to the . The competition began on 22–23 June with securing a 2–0 home victory over Djurgårdens, while Werder Bremen started strongly by defeating 2–0 away. In the second round on 29–30 June, continued their form with a 4–0 win at B 68, and Djurgårdens crushed 8–0 at home, marking one of the tournament's most lopsided results. Round three on 6–7 July saw rebound with a 4–1 triumph over B 68, though Werder edged Djurgårdens 3–2 in a closer contest. By 13–14 July, Werder added a 2–0 away win against B 68, and maintained their perfect record by beating 2–0. The final round on 20 July concluded with Djurgårdens thrashing B 68 5–1, but clinched the group lead through a decisive 3–1 victory over Werder at home. LASK Linz topped the group undefeated, advancing to the knockout stage where they faced Rotor Volgograd but were eliminated with a 2–7 aggregate defeat. Werder Bremen finished second, showcasing strong attacking play but faltering in the finale, while Djurgårdens' high-scoring games highlighted their offensive prowess despite inconsistent results. Apollon and B 68 struggled throughout, with the latter failing to secure any points.

Final Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1LASK Linz (Q)4400111+1012
2Werder Bremen430185+39
34202156+96
44103413-93
5B 68 Toftir4004215-130
(Q) Qualified for the knockout stage.

Match Results

Group 3

Group 3 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup consisted of five teams: from , from , from , from , and from . The group operated on a format where each team played four matches against the others, with the winner determined by points (three for a win, one for a draw), followed by in case of ties. This structure allowed for a competitive schedule spanning late June to mid-July, highlighting the tournament's role as a pathway to the Cup. The group kicked off on 22–23 June with securing a 3–1 home victory over , while Branik dominated Austria Wien 3–0 away. In the second round on 29–30 June, FC København and played out an entertaining 2–2 draw in , and held Branik to a goalless stalemate at home. Round three on 6–7 July saw FC København edge Branik 1–0 in , and Austria Wien routed 6–0 in , showcasing the Austrian side's attacking prowess. By round four on 13–14 July, FC København defeated Austria Wien 2–1 at home, and strengthened their position with a 4–1 win over Branik in . The final matches on 20 July concluded with FC København beating 2–1 in and overcoming Austria Wien 3–2 away. Örebro SK topped the group with 10 points from three wins and one draw, boasting a superior of +6 (12 goals for, 6 against) over København, who also earned 10 points but with a +3 difference (7–4). finished third with 4 points, including a notable opening win, while Austria Wien managed only 3 points despite scoring 9 goals. languished at the bottom with 1 point, conceding 11 goals. As group winners, advanced to the knockout rounds, where they were later eliminated by NK Segesta on away goals in the semi-finals (4–5 aggregate).
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Örebro SK (Q)4310126+610
2FC København431074+310
3Branik Maribor411245–14
4Austria Wien410398+13
5Keflavík4013211–91
Source: RSSSF

Group 4

Group 4 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup consisted of five teams: from , from , SC Charleroi from , from , and Conwy United from . The group stage operated in a format where each team played four matches, with the top team advancing to the knockout rounds. Matches were scheduled across weekends from late June to mid-July 1996. The first round of fixtures took place on 22–23 June. Zagłębie Lubin defeated SV Ried 2–1 at home, while Silkeborg IF secured a convincing 4–2 away victory over SC Charleroi. In the second round on 29–30 June, Conwy United and SC Charleroi played out a goalless draw at home for Conwy, and Silkeborg IF drew 0–0 with Zagłębie Lubin in Denmark. The third round on 6–7 July saw Zagłębie Lubin win 3–0 against Conwy United in Poland, and Silkeborg IF triumphed 3–0 over SV Ried away in Austria. Finally, on 13–14 July and 20 July, Conwy United lost 1–2 at home to SV Ried, SC Charleroi drew 0–0 with Zagłębie Lubin in Belgium, Silkeborg IF beat Conwy United 4–0 at home, and SV Ried fell 1–3 to SC Charleroi in Austria. Silkeborg IF topped the group with an unbeaten record, scoring 11 goals and conceding just 2 to finish on 10 points. placed second with 8 points, having won two and drawn two matches. SC Charleroi earned 5 points in third, while and Conwy United finished with 3 and 1 point respectively.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
14310112+910
2422051+48
3SC Charleroi41215505
4410349-53
5Conwy United401319-81
As group winners, advanced to the quarter-finals, where they progressed on away goals against FK Uralmash Yekaterinburg (1–2 away, 0–1 home) before reaching the final but losing to NK Segesta (1–2 away, 0–1 home).

Group 5

Group 5 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: from , from , from the , from , and Sligo Rovers from . The group operated as a format, with each team playing the other four once, resulting in four matches per team across five rounds from late June to mid-July 1996. The competition began on 22–23 June with Sligo Rovers drawing 0–0 against Heerenveen at The Showgrounds in Ireland, while Lillestrøm secured a 4–1 away victory over Kaunas at S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno stadionas in Lithuania, with goals from Arild Stavrum (two), Bjørn Hansen, and Kjell Stordalen. In the second round on 29–30 June, Nantes hosted Kaunas at Stade de la Beaujoire and won 3–1, courtesy of strikes from Nicolas Ouédec (two) and Hakim Harkic, while Lillestrøm thrashed Sligo 4–0 at Åråsen Stadion, with goals from Stavrum (two), Roger Nilsen, and Stordalen. The third round on 6–7 July saw travel to and draw 3–3, with Claude Makelele, Ouédec, and Eric Decroix scoring for the visitors, matched by Barry Hunter, Paul McGee, and Gavin Kelly for the hosts. continued their strong form with a 1–0 win at 's Sportpark Zuiderpark, thanks to a goal from Tom Kåre Stjernes. In the fourth round on 13–14 July, defeated 3–1 at home, with goals from Decroix (two) and Patrice Loko, while edged 1–0 with a strike from Audrius Žutautas. The final round on 20 July concluded with overcoming 3–2 away at Åråsen, where goals from Makelele, Decroix, and Loko secured the points, despite efforts from Stordalen and Svein Hansen for the hosts. ended their campaign with a 3–1 home win over , goals coming from Hendrik Pieter de Vries, Michael Drost, and substitute Johan Hansma, with Kaunas' Virginijus Baltušnikas replying.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 (Q)4310127+510
24301114+79
3411245-14
44103410-63
5Sligo Rovers402238-52
FC Nantes topped the group and qualified for the Intertoto Cup semifinals, where they faced Standard Liège and lost 3–1 on aggregate (1–0 home loss, 2–1 away win). Lillestrøm finished as runners-up but did not advance, as only group winners progressed directly to the knockout stage.

Group 6

Group 6 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: Croatian side HNK Segesta from Sisak, Swedish club Örgryte IS from Gothenburg, Swiss team FC Luzern, French outfit Stade Rennais from Rennes, and Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv. The group operated under the tournament's standard format for that season, where each team played four matches—two at home and two away—against selected opponents in a single round-robin structure, with fixtures scheduled from late June to mid-July 1996. As one of 12 groups in the competition, the winner was set to advance to the subsequent knockout phase, where group victors competed in mini-leagues to determine UEFA Cup qualifiers. The opening round on 22–23 saw Örgryte secure a 3–0 home victory over Luzern, with goals from Magnus Kihlberg, Mikael Andersson, and , while started strongly by defeating 2–0 away, courtesy of strikes by Olivier Thomas and Gérald Baticle. In the second round on 29–30 , and Örgryte played out a 1–1 draw in —Mario Mlinarić scoring for the hosts and Stefan Rehn equalizing for the visitors—while Luzern bounced back with a 2–0 home win against , goals coming from and . The third round on 6–7 July delivered further shifts: triumphed 3–1 away at (goals by Banfić, Mlinarić, and Aljoša Volić; Pini Balili for the hosts), and Luzern edged 2–1 at home ( and scoring; Pascal Bieler for ). By the fourth round on 13–14 July, hosted in a neutral venue in , , due to stadium constraints in , winning 2–1 with goals from Banfić and Volić (Mourad Meghni for Rennes), while Örgryte solidified their position with a 3–0 home rout of Hapoel Tel Aviv (Elmander, Rehn, and Andersson on target). The final round on 20 July concluded with Luzern falling 1–0 at home to (Volić scoring the decider) and drawing 1–1 with Örgryte away (Baticle for Rennes; Rehn for Örgryte). Hapoel Tel Aviv endured a winless campaign, conceding heavily across all fixtures, which highlighted defensive vulnerabilities against European opposition. Segesta topped the group unbeaten, clinching qualification for the next stage with a strong defensive record and timely victories. Örgryte finished closely behind but missed out on , while Luzern's inconsistent results placed them third. and Hapoel Tel Aviv were eliminated early, with the latter failing to score in three of their four matches.

Final standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1HNK Segesta431073+410
2422082+68
3420245-16
4Stade Rennais41125504
5Hapoel Tel Aviv4004110-90
Source: RSSSF

Matches

Group 7

Group 7 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: from , from , from , from , and from . The group operated in a format where each team played four matches between late June and July, with home-and-away fixtures determining the points: three for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. This structure allowed for a competitive stage, culminating in the top team advancing to the knockout rounds. The group matches unfolded over five rounds, starting on 22–23 June 1996. In the opening round, Rotor secured a convincing 4–0 away victory over Ataka-Aura , while and Shakhtar played out a 2–2 draw at . Round two on 29–30 June saw dominate Antalyaspor with a 5–2 away win in , and Ataka-Aura upset Shakhtar 2–1 at home in . By round three on 6–7 July, Antalyaspor rebounded with a 3–0 home win against Ataka-Aura , and Rotor strengthened their position by defeating Shakhtar 4–1 in . In round four on 13–14 July, Antalyaspor edged Rotor 2–1 at home, while crushed Ataka-Aura 5–0 in . The final round on 20 July concluded with Shakhtar 's narrow 1–0 home win over in , and Rotor 's 3–2 victory against in , which clinched the group lead. The final standings reflected Rotor Volgograd's strong performance, as shown below:
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Rotor Volgograd4301125+79
24211147+77
342027706
4Shakhtar Donetsk411258−34
5Ataka-Aura Minsk4103213−113
Source: Rotor Volgograd topped the group with nine points and advanced to the semifinals of the knockout stage, where they defeated LASK Linz 7–2 on aggregate before exiting in the finals against Guingamp on away goals (2–1 home, 1–0 away loss). FC Basel finished second with a high-scoring run but fell short of qualification.

Group 8

Group 8 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams competing in a round-robin format, with each team playing a single match against each of the other four opponents. The group included KamAZ Naberezhnye Chelny from Russia, TSV 1860 München from Germany, SFC Opava (also known as Kaucuk Opava) from the Czech Republic, Spartak Varna from Bulgaria, and ŁKS Łódź from Poland. Matches were played between 22 June and 20 July 1996, and the winner qualified for the Intertoto Cup knock-out stages. KamAZ topped the group with an unbeaten record, securing 10 points from four wins and one , advancing to the subsequent round. TSV 1860 München and finished level on six points, with 1860 edging ahead on goal difference. Spartak placed fourth with five points, while struggled at the bottom with just one point from a single .

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1KamAZ 431083+510
2TSV 1860 München420283+56
3420254+16
4Spartak 41215505
54013112-111
Source: RSSSF

Matches

The group stage matches unfolded as follows, with all results contributing to the final standings: KamAZ's progression highlighted their defensive solidity, conceding only three goals across the matches, while ŁKS Łódź's heavy defeats underscored their challenges in the competition.

Group 9

Group 9 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: from , Universitatea Craiova from Romania, Spartak Trnava from , Daugava Riga from , and from FR . The group operated on a format, with each team playing four matches across five rounds from late to July 1996. The opening round on 22–23 June saw Spartak Trnava defeat 3–0 at home, while Universitatea Craiova began with a 3–0 victory over . In the second round on 29–30 June, edged Universitatea Craiova 1–0 in , and Spartak Trnava routed 6–0 away. Round three on 6–7 July produced a 1–1 draw between Spartak Trnava and in , alongside 's 3–1 win against . The fourth round on 13–14 July featured Karlsruher SC's 3–0 home win over and Universitatea Craiova's narrow 2–1 triumph against Spartak Trnava. The final round on 20 July concluded with Karlsruher SC beating Daugava Riga 2–1 away and Universitatea Craiova overcoming 2–1 at home. Karlsruher SC topped the group with three wins and one draw, securing advancement to the semi-finals against Lierse from Group 10. Universitatea Craiova finished second, one point behind, while Spartak Trnava placed third despite a strong . Daugava Riga and were eliminated without a .
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1431072+510
2Universitatea Craiova430173+49
3Spartak Trnava4211113+87
4Daugava Riga4103412−83
54004211−90
Source: RSSSF

Group 10

Group 10 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: Lierse SK from Belgium, Vasas SC from Hungary, FC Groningen from the Netherlands, Gaziantepspor from Turkey, and JK Trans Narva from Estonia. The group operated as a round-robin tournament, with each team playing four matches due to the odd number of participants, spanning from late June to July 1996. Lierse SK emerged as the group winner, securing qualification for the subsequent knockout rounds with a strong defensive record. The opening round on 22–23 June saw Vasas defeat Lierse 2–0 at home, while and played out a 1–1 draw in the . In the second round on 29–30 June, routed Trans 4–1 away, and edged Vasas 3–2 in . The third round on 6–7 July featured Vasas' emphatic 4–1 home victory over Trans , alongside Lierse's narrow 1–0 win against in . Round four on 13–14 July brought a 3–0 triumph for Lierse over Trans in and a 1–1 stalemate between and Vasas in the . The final round on 20 July concluded with a goalless draw between and Trans in , and Lierse's decisive 2–1 victory over at home, clinching the top spot.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Lierse SK (Q)430163+39
2421195+47
3412175+25
441214405
5JK Trans Narva4013211−91
Lierse SK's marked their progression to the Intertoto Cup's play-off stage, where they ultimately reached the semi-finals before elimination. Vasas finished second with a potent attack, scoring nine goals across their matches, while the battle for third saw edge on despite both earning five points. Trans Narva struggled throughout, managing only a single point from their four defeats and one draw.

Group 11

Group 11 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup included five teams: (), (), (), (Turkey), and Hibernians F.C. (Malta). The competition format required each team to play four matches in a single structure, with fixtures spread across five rounds from late to mid-July 1996. The group stage began on 22–23 June with Hibernians suffering a 1–2 home defeat to at the Corradino Hibernians Stadium in , attended by 307 spectators, and losing 1–3 to CSKA Sofia in . In the second round on 29–30 June, drew 1–1 at home with , while CSKA Sofia secured a 4–1 victory over Hibernians in . Round three on 6–7 July saw Hibernians fall 0–2 to in and edge CSKA Sofia 2–1 in . The fourth round on 13–14 July produced a 1–1 draw between and in , alongside 's 5–3 win against Hibernians in . The final round on 20 July ended with CSKA Sofia drawing 0–0 at home with and defeating 2–0 in . Uralmash Yekaterinburg dominated the group, remaining unbeaten and conceding just three goals across their four matches. CSKA Sofia finished second, level on goal difference with the leaders but having lost their only defeat to Uralmash. Strasbourg secured third place without a loss, relying on draws for progression points. Kocaelispor picked up four points from a single win and draw, while Hibernians ended bottom, winless and heavily defeated in all fixtures.

Final standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1431073+410
2CSKA Sofia421184+47
3413042+26
4411279−24
5Hibernians F.C.4004513−80
Source: Uralmash qualified as group winners for the knockout stage, where they advanced to the semifinals before elimination. The competition provided these clubs with early-season European exposure, though only the overall winners progressed to the Cup.

Group 12

Group 12 of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured five teams: from , FK Zemun from FR Yugoslavia, from , from , and from . The group operated as a single where each team played four matches against the others, totaling ten fixtures across five rounds from late to mid-July 1996. The top team would advance to the knockout stage, with the ultimate winners of the competition qualifying for the . The group began on 22 and 23 June with FF Jaro hosting En Avant Guingamp in a goalless draw (0–0) and FK Zemun defeating FC Dinamo București 2–1 at home. In the second round on 29 and 30 June, Zemun continued their strong start by winning 3–2 away at Kolkheti-1913 Poti, while Jaro secured a 2–0 victory over Dinamo București. Round three on 6 and 7 July saw Jaro beat Kolkheti 2–0 at home, and Guingamp edge Dinamo 2–1 in France. The fourth round on 13 and 14 July featured Guingamp's 3–1 away win against Kolkheti and Zemun's 3–2 home triumph over Jaro. The final round on 20 July concluded with Dinamo's 2–0 home win against Kolkheti and Guingamp's narrow 1–0 victory over Zemun. The matches highlighted Guingamp's defensive solidity and clinical finishing, as they remained unbeaten throughout the group stage, conceding just two goals while scoring six. Zemun mounted a competitive challenge but fell short in their final match, while Jaro showed promise with consistent scoring but faltered in key encounters. Dinamo and Kolkheti struggled, with the latter failing to secure a single point.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1431062+410
2FK Zemun430186+29
3421163+37
4410346−23
54004310−70
En Avant Guingamp topped the group with 10 points and advanced to the semifinals of the competition. Their qualification positioned them for further success, eventually winning one of the three Intertoto Cup titles and progressing to the UEFA Cup first round, where they faced Internazionale.

Semi-finals

Summary

The semi-finals of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured the twelve group stage winners, paired into six two-legged knockout ties to determine the participants for the finals. These matches were scheduled as first legs on 27 and 28 July 1996, with second legs on 31 July 1996, following the standard UEFA format where aggregate scores decided advancement, and away goals used as a tiebreaker if necessary. The six victorious teams from this round proceeded to three separate final ties, with the ultimate winners earning qualification for the 1996–97 UEFA Cup first round. The ties produced competitive encounters, with several decided by narrow margins or the . In one bracket, Croatian side HNK Sisak overcame Sweden's 5–4 on aggregate after a 4–0 first-leg win followed by a 4–1 second-leg loss. Russia's dominated Austria's 7–2 on aggregate, securing a 2–2 draw away and a 5–0 home victory. France's advanced past Russia's 4–2 on aggregate, losing the first leg 0–2 but triumphing 4–0 (aet) in the return fixture. Germany's defeated Belgium's Lierse S.K. 5–2 on aggregate with a 3–2 away win and 2–0 home success. Belgium's progressed against France's 3–1 on aggregate via 2–1 and 1–0 victories. Finally, Denmark's edged Russia's FC Uralmash Yekaterinburg 2–2 on away goals after a 2–1 first-leg win and a 0–1 second-leg loss.
TieFirst Leg (27/28 Jul)Second Leg (31 Jul)Aggregate
vs. 4–0 4–1 5–4 ()
vs. 2–2 5–0 7–2 ()
vs. 2–0 4–0 (aet) 4–2 ()
Lierse vs. Lierse 2–3 2–0 Lierse5–2 ()
vs. 2–1 0–1 3–1 ()
vs. 1–2 0–1 2–2 (, away goals)
This round highlighted the tournament's international diversity, with teams from nine countries competing, and set the stage for the finals where , , and ultimately prevailed as the three winners.

Finals

Matches

The finals of the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup consisted of three two-legged ties played between the winners of the semi-finals, determining the three teams that would advance to the UEFA Cup first round. The first legs took place on 6 August 1996, and the second legs on 20 August 1996, with the applied in case of aggregate ties. In the first final tie, Belgian side faced German club . The first leg at ended 1-0 in favor of Standard Liège. The second leg at saw Karlsruher SC overturn the deficit, winning 3-1. Karlsruher SC advanced on a 3-2 aggregate score. The second tie pitted Russia's Volgograd against France's . Rotor took a 2-1 lead in the first leg at Spartak Stadium. In the return leg at , Guingamp secured a 1-0 victory, resulting in a 2-2 aggregate. Guingamp progressed on away goals. The third final featured Croatia's HNK against Denmark's . claimed a 2-1 away win in the first leg at Gradski Stadion. The second leg at Stadion ended 0-1. The 2-2 aggregate saw advance on away goals.
TieFirst Leg (6 Aug 1996)ScoreSecond Leg (20 Aug 1996)ScoreAggregate Winner
vs. 1-0 1-0 3-1 3-1 (3-2)
Rotor Volgograd vs. Rotor Volgograd 2-1 2-1 1-0 Rotor Volgograd1-0 (2-2, away goals)
HNK vs. 1-2 1-2 0-1 0-1 (2-2, away goals)

Winners and Legacy

The Three Winners

The 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup featured a group stage followed by a final involving the 12 group winners, culminating in three teams qualifying as overall winners for the UEFA Cup first round. These winners— of , of , and of —each navigated challenging semi-final and final matches to secure their advancement, marking the tournament's structure of providing multiple European qualification spots. En Avant Guingamp topped Group 12 with victories over teams including ÍBV and FK Zemun, before progressing in the finals by defeating KamAZ Naberezhnye Chelny 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals (0-2 away, 4-0 home after extra time). In the final, they overcame Rotor Volgograd on away goals (1-0 home win after a 2-1 away loss), clinching their status as one of the three winners. This success highlighted Guingamp's resilience in a debut European campaign for the club. Silkeborg IF won Group 4 against opponents such as KÍ Klaksvík and , then advanced via the semi-finals against Uralmash Yekaterinburg, prevailing on away goals (2-1 away after a 1-0 home defeat). They sealed victory in the final against Segesta Sisak, again on away goals (2-1 away win following a 1-0 home loss), demonstrating tactical discipline that propelled the Danish side to European qualification for the first time. dominated Group 9 with wins over teams such as Dundee United, before eliminating Lierse SK 5-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals (3-2 away, 2-0 home). In the final, they defeated 3-2 on aggregate (1-0 away loss, 3-1 home win), earning their spot as winners and showcasing the German club's experience in continental competitions.

UEFA Cup Advancement

The 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup marked the first edition under UEFA's direct organization, with the tournament structured to provide qualification spots to the UEFA Cup. Specifically, the three teams that progressed to the finals stage—determined through a group phase followed by semifinals and finals—earned entry into the first round of the 1996–97 UEFA Cup. This advancement system aimed to integrate the Intertoto Cup as a preliminary competition for smaller European clubs, offering them a pathway to higher-profile European football. En Avant Guingamp of , of , and of emerged as the three winners, each securing a berth in the Cup first round. advanced after defeating Rotor Volgograd in the Intertoto semifinals on away goals (1–0 home, 1–2 away), while progressed by overcoming Segesta Sisak similarly (2–1 away, 0–1 home), and eliminated (3–2 aggregate). In the Cup, faced Italian giants Internazionale in the first round, suffering a 3–0 home defeat before a 1–1 draw away, resulting in elimination. met , losing 2–3 away and 1–2 at home (3–5 aggregate). Karlsruher SC provided the most notable progression among the Intertoto qualifiers, reaching the third round of the UEFA Cup. They dispatched București in the first round (0–1 away loss, 4–1 home win; 4–2 aggregate) and advanced past in the second round (3–0 home victory, 2–1 away loss; 4–2 aggregate), before falling to Danish side in the third round (3–1 away win, 0–5 home loss; 3–6 aggregate). This run highlighted the potential impact of Intertoto success, as 's journey extended their European campaign into October 1996 and showcased competitive performances against established clubs. Overall, the advancement underscored the tournament's role in bridging domestic leagues with continental competition, though only one of the three teams progressed beyond the initial stages.

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