Champions League, the return matches of the third qualifying round are played. Marseille risks: news and predictions.
A “specter” lurks around the Champions League preliminaries. It is Klaksvik, a small club from the Faroe Islands, which does not want to stop surprising. After having passed against all odds the first two qualifying rounds for the group stage of the most important continental event – eliminated Ferencvaros and Hacken – the men coached by Norwegian Magne Hoseth dream of another feat against Molde, beaten 2-1 in the first leg.
The first round was the prerogative of Klaksvik, which was able to retake the defending champions of Norway thanks to a double from Frederiksberg. In the return match they will be able to count on two out of three results: it is hard to imagine them making the barricades, but they certainly are not off to a beaten start. Goals, as was the case in the second challenge with Hacken, should not be lacking. An eventful match also looms between Maccabi Haifa and Slovan Bratislava: the Israelis, who got the better of Juventus in the last edition in the round, made a splash in the first leg (1-2) and in front of their home crowd they should avoid defeat, securing qualification to the play-offs. By contrast, everything was easy for Galatasaray and Psv Eindhoven. The Turks strolled over Slovenians Olimpia Ljubljana a week ago and have a good chance to repeat in Istanbul. Another goleada is also in sight for the Dutch, who in the Netherlands won 4-1 over Sturm.
Champions League: Marseille called for a comeback
Qualification in the balance in the challenge between the Swiss Servette and the Scottish Rangers: in Glasgow it ended 2-1 for Michael Beale’s men but Tavernier and his teammates cannot underestimate the Swiss, who should score at least one goal.
A moment of the match between Marseille and Panathinaikos
Braga, which finished in third place in the last Primeira Liga, has put a serious mortgage on the passage to the round: the Portuguese trimmed three goals against Backa Topola (3-0) and it is unlikely that they will not emerge victorious from the Serbian trip as well. Total balance, on the other hand, between Sparta Prague and Copenhagen: in the first leg the Czechs and Danes did not do each other any harm (0-0), but in the challenge in Prague it is the hosts who start slightly favored. Poland’s Rakow go to Cyprus to defend their 2-1 win seven days ago against Aris Limassol: they should succeed, but within another match of more than two goals total. They will have to make up the 1-0 loss in Athens finally Marseille: Marcelino’s team risks a resounding elimination but the warm Velodrome crowd should come to their rescue in the most interesting match of this round between the Provençals and Panathinaikos.
Champions League: likely winners
- Sparta Prague or draw (in Sparta Prague-Copenaghen, 7 p.m.)
- Braga (in Backa Topola-Braga, 8 p.m.)
- Marseille (in Marseille-Panathinaikos, 9 p.m.)
The games by at least one goal per team
- Aris Limassol-Rakow, 7 p.m.
- Sturm Graz-PSV Eindhoven, 8:30 p.m.
- Servette-Rangers, 8:30 p.m.
