Champions League, qualifying for the group stage of the 2023-2024 edition begins: news and predictions on the first leg matches.
All set for the first qualifying round in the ‘nascent’ Champions League. The continent’s top-ranked competition reopens just over a month after the previous edition ended in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City’s victory over Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul, which was decided by Rodri’s second-half goal. After the preliminary round, in which only six teams competed, the real qualifiers begin, which will accompany us throughout the summer.
Starting with the first round, 30 clubs are ready to challenge each other in a round-robin game: whoever is eliminated automatically ‘relegates’ to the second qualifying round of the Conference League. Among them is Maccabi Haifa, who were complicit in Juventus’ resounding elimination from the Champions League group stage a year ago.
The Israelis will be on the scene in Malta against Hamrun Spartans, coached by former Lazio defender Luciano Zauri: their victory does not seem to be in question, although it cannot be ruled out that they will concede at least one goal on a Maltese evening that promises to be a scorcher in terms of weather. Ludogorets and Ferencvaros, two teams by now accustomed to attending important stages, should also start with a success. The Bulgarians, who made Roma sweat in last year’s Europa League group stage, are clear favourites over Ballkani from Kosovo, while the Hungarians will make the most of their higher technical level in the match against Klaksvik, a club from the Faroe Islands.
Both Zrinjski Mostar and Bate Borisov, who seem to have something more to offer than Urartu and Partizani Tirana, are likely to avoid defeat on the road. Victory within reach instead for the Lithuanians of Zalgiris, who should prevail against Struga in front of their own public. Finally, the matches between Qarabag and Rakow will not be short of goals, the latter of which was last year’s surprise Polish champion.
Champions League: likely winners
- Zrinjski Mostar or draw (in Urartu-Zrinjski Mostar, 5pm)
- Ferencvaros (in Klaksvik-Ferencvaros, 20:45)
- Bate Borisov or draw (in Partizani Tirana-Bate Borisov, 20:45)
Zalgiris (in Zalgiris-Struga, 18:00)
Ludogorets (in Ballkani-Ludogorets, 20:45)
