What stands out most when skimming through the results of the first leg of the Champions League qualifying rounds is the number of matches still up for grabs after the first 90 minutes. Only FCSB, Malmo, and Zrinjski Mostar have managed to secure their place in the second round, winning by a comfortable margin of more than one goal.
The old Steaua Bucharest, for example, had no problems against Andorra’s Inter Club d’Escaldes, beating them 3-1 in the Romanian capital: FCSB had already sealed the deal at the start of the second half, taking a three-goal lead; then excessive relaxation gave the Pyrenean club a lifeline, allowing them to reduce the deficit through Rafinha (shortly before, Inter d’Escaldes had also missed a penalty). Elias Charalambous’s men proved to be clearly superior and will most likely prevail in the return leg, in another match that should produce at least three goals in total. Home advantage will make the difference in the clash between North Macedonia’s Shkendija and Wales’ The New Saints: the first leg was a very evenly balanced game, which ended 0-0, but in front of their home crowd, the Balkan side should be able to assert their superiority.
Another tense 90 minutes are in store between Differdange 03 and Drita: the first leg in Kosovo ended 1-0 to the home side, a result that the Luxembourg team look capable of overturning on home turf.
In the Baltic clash between RFS Riga and Levadia Tallinn, the Latvians have a slight advantage, having won narrowly in Estonia (0-1) thanks to a penalty converted by Panic. The club from the Latvian capital is likely to avoid defeat in the return leg, which could, however, be more eventful than the first leg.
Finally, there should be no shortage of excitement in the match between Vikingur of the Faroe Islands and Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar: the visitors pulled off a stunning 3-2 win in the Faroe Islands, but it will not be easy for them to defend their lead, and the feeling is that anything could happen. At least one goal for each side is also expected in Buducnost-Noah, with the Montenegrins forced to come back from a 1-0 defeat in Armenia. Two ‘under’ games? Hamrun Spartans-Zalgiris and Kairat Almaty-Olimpia Ljubljana: the Lithuanians already have one foot and a half in the next round after last week’s 2-0 win, while everything is still to play for between the Kazakhs and Slovenians (1-1).
Champions League: possible winners
Differdange 03 or a draw (in Differdange 03-Drita)
Shkendija (in Shkendija-TNS)
FCSB (in Inter Club d’Escaldes-FCSB)
Matches with at least three goals in total
RFS-Levadia Tallinn
Inter Club d’Escaldes-FCSB
Champions League: matches with at least one goal per team
Lincoln Red Imps-Vikingur
Buducnost-Noah
Matches with fewer than three goals in total
Kairat Almaty-Olimpia Lubiana
Hamrun Spartans-Zalgiris
Odds comparison
Skhendija’s victory is priced at 1.82 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and at 1.80 on Snai. The “Over 2.5” bet in RFS-Levadia Tallinn is priced at 1.60 on Goldbet, Lottomatica, and Snai.
- GOLDBET – Up to €3050 on sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO
- SNAI – €15 free + 50% on your first deposit up to €30 MORE INFO
- LOTTOMATICA – Up to €3050 for sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO
SUBSCRIBE to the TELEGRAM channel to receive FREE notifications with other exclusive last-minute predictions, including on GOALSCORERS, SHOTS, AND YELLOW CARDS: CLICK HERE