Thursday 13 July predictions: sixty teams on the pitch for the first leg of the first qualifying round of the next Conference League.
First round of games in the Conference League. The first leg of the first qualifying round of the group stage of Uefa’s third biggest event is completed today.
There are sixty teams in the starting line-up – mostly unknowns – dreaming of the final phase. Juventus, who will represent Italy this year, will not enter the game until the end of August, although the Bianconeri still run the risk of being sanctioned with a one-year ban by Europe’s top football body. Zilina and Riga FC are likely to debut with a success in their respective engagements with Levadia Tallinn and Vikingur Reykjavik, while Pyunik Yerevan-Narva Trans, Akureyri-Connah’s Quay and Shkendija-Haverfordwest will not be goal-poor matches. Both the Lithuanians of Hegelmann and the North-Macedonians of Shkupi are likely to score.
Other match predictions
As one of the friendlies to watch out for today, Arsenal will face Nuremberg in a match that promises to be prolific. Bournemouth should also win as they take on Hibernian.
Winners
- Zilina (in Zilina-Levadia Tallinn, Conference League, 5.30pm)
Dundalk (in Bruno’s Magpies-Dundalk, Conference League, 6pm)
Riga FC (in Riga FC-Vikingur Reykjavik, Conference League, 7pm)
Bodo/Glimt (in HamKam-Bodo/Glimt, Norwegian Cup, 6pm)
