Spread over two days, the first leg of the first qualifying round of the 2025-26 Champions League concludes today. Four matches are scheduled, including the Irish-Northern Irish “derby” between Irish champions Shelbourne and Northern Ireland’s latest champions, Linfield.
Shelbourne are not going through a happy period and are unlikely to defend the title they won a year ago after 18 long years. The Shels are fifth, 14 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers, and a week ago they sacked coach Duff, replacing him with Joseph O’Brien, who made a winning debut, ending a three-game winless streak.
Unlike in Ireland, the Northern Ireland league will not resume until the first week of August. This could pose a significant problem for Linfield, who have played just one competitive match since last April, losing on penalties to Dungannon in the Charity Shield. We expect a very tense and unspectacular game, with Shelbourne starting as slight favorites due to the fact that the visitors may be a little rusty. Also in action are Romanian champions FCSB – essentially the old Steaua Bucharest – who have just lifted another title, winning the Super Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory over Cluj. Elias Charalambous’ side should have no trouble taming Andorra’s Inter Club d’Escaldes in a match that could end in a rout.
Predictions for the other matches
Ludogorets, the undisputed leaders of the Bulgarian league, also begin their adventure in the first round. However, the green and whites have not shone in their recent friendlies and could suffer greatly from the fresh legs of Dinamo Minsk, whose league is in full swing. It will not be an easy game for the Razgrad club, which already faced the Belarusians in the preliminary round a year ago: a 2-0 victory in the first leg rendered the 1-0 defeat in Minsk irrelevant. Once again, home advantage will be a factor.
We conclude with the match between Zalgiris and Hamrun Spartans: the Maltese, led by Italian Giacomo Modica, have little chance of avoiding defeat in Lithuania against a superior opponent who is coming off two straight wins in their league.
Champions League: possible winners
Ludogorets (in Ludogorets-Dinamo Minsk)
Zalgiris (in Zalgiris-Hamrun Spartans)
Shelbourne or draw (in Shelbourne-Linfield)
The match with at least four goals in total
FCSB-Inter Club d’Escaldes
The matches with less than three goals in total
Zalgiris-Hamrun Spartans
Shelbourne-Linfield
Odds comparison
Zalgiris is priced at 1.80 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.70 on Snai. The “Under 2.5” bet in Shelbourne-Linfield is priced at 1.57 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.60 on Snai.
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