No breaks on the horizon for the UEFA Champions league competition, which is just starting to pick up the pace with the 2nd leg of the Qualifying round on schedule for Tuesday, July 4th 2017.
Although this is the stage of the competition in which we can hardly pronounce the name of the teams, still there is no reason why we should not look for some action on the books. Before we proceed into the analysis, I would like to remind you that Get More Sports APP is now available in Google Play Store and we hope that you will continue to support us by downloading it. Also, Ej the Rainmaker has started his Podcast show called “Speak Up” so don’t miss out to hear some of the greatest athletes, sports legends and other interesting guest who will be aired and interviewed with the Master Ej the Rainmaker. Anyways, with 5 games on schedule for Tuesday, I am sure that there will be some interesting picks to place our wagers on.
INFONET TALLINN (Est) vs. HIBERNIANS (Mlt)
Three-Way: Infonet Tallin -103; X: +286 Draw; Hibernians +320
Spread -0.5: Infonet Tallin -104; Hibernians -104
Total +2.5: Over +120; Under -133
INFONET TALLINN
The Estonian team will look for a bounce back performance after suffering a 0:2 defeat in the first leg. Infonet Tallinn is going into the match having played 17 games already in the domestic competition, which should count for something. However, the team is currently holding only the 4th spot in the domestic league, having won only 8 games, along with 3 draws and 6 losses.
With a total of 27 points, they are running behind 20 points already to the top ranke Flora. Even the 2nd and the 3rd ranked team have managed to separate themselves from Infonet team as they have collected 43 and 36 points respectively.
The last years champions has not too much to brag about regarding this season, but despite all, they current form indicates that they might be turning their luck around, considering that they have won 5, lost 2 and drawn 1 game, including all competitions. Their leading scorer is Albert Prosa with 17 goals to his name already, all scored in the domestic league.
HIBERNIANS
The Hibernians have managed to accomplish their goal in the first leg, after keeping their net untouched while also scoring 2 goals on the other side of the pitch. However, their goal was endangered in the 5th minute of the games when the visitors were awarded with a penalty kick. However, Kirill Nesterov blew the chance to score for his team.
After that, the Hibernians squad pulled it together and pushed forward much stronger. Still the nets remained untouched through the first 45 minutes. in the 2nd half, the fans finally saw some goals as the hosts scored through Jorginho (63rd min.) and Kristensen (73rd min.).
The score remained 2:0 after the final whistle which is not a score that is too hard to catch up, which further assures that we are up for a battle on Tuesday. The game will be played at the Infonet Lasnamae Stadium in Tallinn.
INFONET TALLINN (Est) vs. HIBERNIANS (Mlt) – Match Prediction:
The game on Tuesday surely promises a real challenge for the hosts who had their chances in the first leg of the Champions League qualifications but failed to score. The visitors from Malta dominated the first match and will look to keep their net clean and keep the control of the ball more.
This should be a high scoring game considering that the hosts will go all out from the first minute in hope to catch up the deficit. This should leave plenty of room for the counter attacks which hopefully will lead to goals scored. Therefore, I am taking the over.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (+120)
TREPCA 89 (Kos) vs. VIKINGUR (Fai)
Three-way: Trepca 89 -196; X: +369 Draw; Vikingur +680
Spread -1: Trepca 89 -122; Vikingur +112
Total +2.5: Over -137; Under +125
TREPCA 89
Trepca 89 are set to make their Champions League debut at the Olympic Stadium Adem Jashari in Mitrovica on Tuesday night when they welcome Vikingur Gota. The team from Kosovo dominated the Superliga last year and raised the silverware at the end of the season with a total of 77 points won, 5 more from the 2nd ranked Prishtina team.
Their head coach Zekrija Ramadani was not too disappointed after the first leg of the Champions League qualifications when his team showcased a very respectable performance, which in the end was not enough to prevent the 1:2 loss. Still, the home fans can be hopeful going into the match on Tuesday with John Otto leading the attack. The Nigerian forward has scored 13 goals and recorded 9 assists in the 2016/2017 season and will most likely be the main threat to the visitors’ goal.
VIKINGUR
The team from Faroe Islands managed to record their first win in the Champions League competition after Vatnhamar (17th min.) and Lawal (73rd min.) scored in the first leg and lifted their team to a win.
The visitors are already in full swing having played 14 games (8W, 5D, 1L) and collecting a total of 29 points. They are currently sharing the top spot in the domestic league alongside Klaksvik.
Lawal Adeshina is their top goal scorer with 9 goals recorded. The head coach of Vikingur, Samai Hantze, is fully aware that they are will not have it easy on Tuesday and that the home team will be carried by a great home crowd.
TREPCA 89 (Kos) vs. VIKINGUR (Fai) – Match Prediction:
Trepca 89, despite losing the first game in the Champions League qualifications, has shown that they prefer to play a much more offensive style of football and the same is expected on Tuesday. On the other side, the visitors are also known for playing for an extra goal so this matchup could provide goals on both sides.
I am taking the over in this one.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-137)
EUROPA FC (Gib) vs. TNS (Wal)
Three-Way: 1: Europa FC +171; X: +242 Draw; TNS +174
Spread 0: Europa FC -104; TNS +100
Total +2.5: Over -108; Under +100
EUROPA FC
The Europa FC are flying above the clouds as they surprisingly came up with a 2:1 away win over TNS in the first leg of the Champions League qualifications. Alex Quillo put the team upfront with a goal in the 8th minute but the hosts managed to level the score just before the halftime break when Quigley scored in the 44th minute. When everyone expected the home team to take the lead in the second half, the visitors provided another shocker as Gomez scored the 2nd goal for his team, which proved to be the final score and a very valuable win for the Gibraltar team.
Europa FC will now host the TNS and with the win from the first leg, they will be full of confidence and hopes of reaching the 2nd round of the competition.
TNS
The New Saints dominated the Welsh Premier league last season, winning their 6th consecutive title and making it once again to the qualifying rounds of the Champions League competition. In their previous 5 stints, TNS has been somewhat successful as they managed to reach the 2nd round at least in all 5 CL appearances, even making it to the 3rd round on one occasion.
On Tuesday they will have to dig themselves out of the hole and try to shock the home team if they want to continue their CL success and reach the 2nd round.
EUROPA FC (Gib) vs. TNS (Wal) – Match Prediction:
The Welsh champions are a better team on the paper and it came as a surprise that they lost in the first leg, but Europa FC has absolutely deserved the win and showed that they will not be just a sleeper in this competition.
Expect many goals as the visitors will go full strength forward from the first minute. They are currently listed as a +174 and for the buck invested this could be a nice return, so I will tip on the visitors in this one with a possibility of many goals scored.
MY PICK: TNS to win (+174)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals (-108)
FC SANTA COLOMA (And) vs ALASHKERT (Arm)
Three-Way: 1: FC Santa Coloma +450; X: +280 Draw; 2: Alashkert -118
Spread +0.5: FC Santa Coloma +129; Alashkert -118
TOTAL +2.5: Over +127; Under -143
FC SANTA COLOMA
The FC Santa Coloma will look for some revenge on Tuesday night when they host Alashkert at their stadium. The team from Andorra failed to keep their net clean in the first leg but still allowed only 1 goal, which gives them hope to bounce back quickly on Tuesday with a scored goal and try to upset the favored visitors.
The FC Santa Coloma has not played any games in the domestic league prior to this match, but has claimed their 4th consecutive title by winning the competition last season, in which they completely dominated the league.
ALASHKERT
On the other side, the team from Armenia has hope to record a more convincing win prior to their visit at the hostile environment and the stadium with a high altitude.
Coach Abraham Khashmanyan has led his team to the domestic league title in the last season, but now hopes to make the extra step and reach the next stage of the UEFA Champions league competition. This is a team that likes to play offensively with two main stars Mihran Manasyan and Artak Yedigaryan, who combined for 27 goals in the last season.
FC SANTA COLOMA (And) vs ALASHKERT (Arm) – Match Prediction:
FC Santa Coloma and Alashkert have met each other last year in the same stage of the Champions League qualifications. The Armenian team pulled a scoreless draw in Andorra prior to celebrating a 3:0 win at home and advancing into the second round where they ended up losing to Dinamo Tbilisi with 0:2 and 1:1.
Alashkert is once again the absolute favorite to win in this match and I think that they will live up to the expectations and celebrate a narrow win on Tuesday.
MY PICK: Alashkert to win (-118)
LA FIORITA (San) vs LINFIELD (Nir)
Three-Way: 1: La Fiorita +650; X: +384 Draw; 2: Linfield -196
Spread +1: La Fiorita +114; Linfield -111
TOTAL +2.5: Over +100; Under +102
LA FIORITA
The teams from San Marino belong to the lower club level in the international competitions and every time there is a team from San Marino competing in the UEFA competitions, they are considered as an underdog.
However, La Fiorita fought back strongly in the first leg allowing only 1 goal into their net. Considering that they had only 38% possession of the ball and fired only 3 shots off the goal, the 0:1 loss can be looked at a great success going into the return fixture on Tuesday.
LINFIELD
Linfield was expected to net at least 3 goals in the first leg against the underdog La Florita. The first half saw little action as the nets remained untouched. In the 64th minute the team from Northern Ireland had a chance to take the lead from the penalty kick but Burns failed to convert the shot into a goal.
Sukka brought the smiles on the fans faces when he scored a late winner in the 89th minute, giving his team at least the smallest advantage going into the return leg.
LA FIORITA (San) vs LINFIELD (Nir) – Match Prediction:
Let’s hope that the teams will have more firepower on Tuesday night and that we will see more goals scored. I would expect more action on both sides of the pitch, but in the end the visitors should be the ones that will see their European journey continue. With that being said I would go with the spread on the visitors.
MY PICK: Linfield AH -1 (-111)
