Bilderecke » best 117-game mark in franchise history. Th

NYON, Switzerland -- Arsenal was drawn on Friday to play Fenerbahce in a Champions League playoff affected by legal complications as it seeks a 16th straight season in the lucrative group stage. A pending match-fixing case involving Fenerbahce at sports highest court means the Turkish club could be expelled from the competition even if it wins. The first leg is scheduled Aug. 21 in Istanbul. "We put the politics aside and Arsenal will concentrate on the football side," Arsenal official David Miles told The Associated Press after the draw. "We will keep in touch with UEFA." Seven-time winner AC Milan was paired in the draw with PSV Eindhoven, the 1988 European champion, with the first match in the Netherlands. "Its a classic European cup match-up," Milan director Umberto Gandini said. "Its a pleasure to play with such a historical club, and its a difficult task." Schalke was drawn to play Metalist Kharkiv, which is also threatened with UEFA sanctions for a years-old domestic match-fixing case. The Ukrainian club faces a disciplinary hearing at UEFA on Tuesday. Among the 10 pairings it was: Lyon vs. Real Sociedad, Portuguese newcomer Pacos de Ferreira vs. Zenit St. Petersburg and Shakhter Karagandy hosting Celtic. The Scottish champion faces a long trek to Kazakhstan for the first match, at the national stadium in Astana. First legs are played Aug. 20 or 21 and return matches on Aug. 27 or 28. Winners advance to the elite 32-team group stage, joining established powers like defending champion Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United. It will be drawn Aug. 29 in Monaco. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set an Aug. 28 deadline -- the day after Arsenal hosts the return leg -- to rule on Fenerbahces appeal against a two-year ban from UEFA competitions. No hearing date has been set. UEFAs Champions League rules require clubs not to have been involved in fixing matches since April 2007, and several Fenerbahce officials were convicted in a criminal trial of fixing matches during the clubs 2011 national title run. They deny wrongdoing. Metalist also faces UEFA sanctions after CAS last month dismissed an appeal by the Ukrainian clubs sports director against a five-year ban from football. The Ukrainian federation had judged that Metalists 4-0 win against Karpaty Lviv in an April 2008 league match was fixed. Metalist vice-president Konstantin Pivovarov confirmed that, even if UEFA rules against the club, it is likely to appeal that verdict at CAS and try to continue in the competition. "Were expecting to play Metalist," Schalke official Moritz Beckers-Schwarz said. If Metalist is removed, its defeated third qualifying round opponent -- PAOK Thessaloniki, led by a former Schalke coach -- could in theory be reinstated. "We would like to play PAOK because Huub Stevens is the coach now and that would be an interesting issue," Beckers-Schwarz said. Fenerbahce eliminated Salzburg this week in the qualifying round. Two years ago, the Fenerbahce case led to its withdrawal from the groups draw by the Turkish football federation on the eve of the Monaco event. Trabzonspor was restored in its place despite previously losing in the qualifiers. Other pairings Friday were: 1986 champion Steaua Bucharest vs. Legia Warsaw, Viktoria Plzen vs. Maribor, Dinamo Zagreb vs. Austria Vienna, Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Basel. Nike Air Max 270 Womens Discount . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 China . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. http://www.max270cheap.com/nike-women-s-air-max-270-triple-white-ah6789-102.html . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Air Max 270 Mens Sale . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Nike Air Max 270 Clearance . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers are in quite a groove right now, and they know it.Its an unbelievable lineup, catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. Anybody can hurt you on any given day.The Rangers (69-48) are in firm control in the American League West thanks to a recent 14-6 surge thats given Texas a 7 1/2-game cushion over Seattle and Houston in the division. Its also been six wins in the last seven games, including Fridays 8-5 victory over Detroit.The Rangers and Tigers continue their three-game set with the middle game Saturday night at Globe Life Park. Texas has beaten Detroit six straight times, with the last four coming this season.The Rangers look to make it seven in a row with ace Cole Hamels (12-3, 2.89 ERA) taking the mound for the 24th time this season. The lefty has gone 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break. Hamels is 3-1 lifetime against Detroit.Detroit (61-54) hopes to snap a five-game skid with left-hander Matt Boyd (3-2, 4.69) making his 11th start of the season. Boyd is 0-3 record with a 7.63 ERA in his career against Texas.Boyd made a relief appearance Aug. 9 at Seattle, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless inning. His last start was Aug. 6 against the New York Mets, picking up the win after giving up three runs on six hits with five strikeouts over five innings.The Tigers are in the midst of their second-longest skid of the season. Detroit is 1 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot in the Ameerican League.ddddddddddddThe ups and downs, its hard to describe for people that dont go through it, Tigers catcher James McCann said, but its something we just have to grind our way through.Texas owns the best record in the A.L. and the best 117-game mark in franchise history. The Rangers are 36-18 at home, their best start ever through 54 games.The long ball was good for the Rangers in the series opener, as Texas went deep four times. Trade-deadline pickup Jonathan Lucroy hit two homers to give him six since joining the Rangers on Aug. 1.Lucroy has earned kudos for his handling of the pitching staff in addition to his bat.He doesnt miss his pitch very often, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. For him to come in and really make an immediate impact, not only defensively but offensively, is pretty special.Texas leads the major leagues with 89 home runs since June 9.The Tigers suffered another injury before Fridays game as shortstop Jose Iglesias was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Third baseman Nick Castellanos and center fielder Cameron Maybin are also on the DL, along with starting pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Pelfrey.Were backed into a little bit of a corner because of injuries, manager Brad Ausmus said. Our depth at Triple-A is kind of all here right now because of the injuries. ' ' '