There are only two more weeks before we find out the names of all the teams that will participate in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League and the time of wrapping up this qualification rounds is nearing.
Only a playoff round of the competition is left (two legs) whose winners will go to the Champions League and whose losers will participate in the Europa League. The Champions League group stage provides more grandeur and is much more attractive financially but the Europa League is not to be underestimated.
One thing is for certain, and that’s the fact that the owners of teams that have survived this far in the competition are rubbing their hands with thoughts of big money that comes from TV rights and UEFA financial rewards that are available in group stages of these two competitions. The future of the teams is defined this way and the players and fans know that as far as their team goes this year, the bigger the chances are for them to accomplish even greater successes in years to come.
Hoffenheim (Ger) vs. Liverpool (Eng)
Three-Way: 1: Hoffenheim +225; X: +254; Liverpool +140
Spread 0: Hoffenheim +129; Liverpool -132
Total +2.5: Over -118; Under +108
HOFFENHEIM
The Hoffenheim team has entered the UEFA Champions League competition in playoff round after finishing ranked fourth in the German Bundesliga last year and this will be their first official matchup of the 2017/18 season. They weren’t too lucky in the draw as they got probably one of the strongest teams in the competition, the English side Liverpool but they still have certain chances of qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League. We’ll see how they’ll cope.
The team was pretty active during the offseason on the transfer market as four players left the team including twenty-one years old centre-back Niklas Sule who went to Bayern Munich for a fee of 20.00 Mill Euros. Marco Terazzino and Fabian Schar also left the team and they will continue their careers in SC Freiburg and Dep. La Coruna. On the other side, three players were signed including defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit who came from West Ham for a fee worth 8.00 Mill. Euros while left winger Serge Gnabry came from Bayern Munich on a loan deal worth 1.00 Mill. Euros. Manager Julian Nagelsmann will have his entire roster available for the upcoming clash.
LIVERPOOL
The 18-times English Champions Liverpool team finished ranked fourth in the English Premier League last year thus earning a playoff round berth of the UEFA Champions League this season. EPL 2017/18 season play started last weekend and Liverpool recorded a 3:3 draw at Watford what can be considered as a solid result. Now, they’ll have to turn their attention to the matchup with German side as the appearance in the UEFA Champions League group stage can be considered as an imperative.
Liverpool splashed 42.00 Mill. Euros for Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah who came from AS Roma and they also signed left-back Andrew Robertson from Hull City for a fee worth 9.00 Mill. Euros. On the other side, three players were sold including long-time Liverpool player, defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva who signed with Italian side Lazio for a fee of 5.70 Mill. Euros but the departure list for the team from Anfield might not be finished as Barcelona shows great interest for their star player Philippe Coutinho. We’ll see if Jurgen Klopp can keep him. Goalie Adam Bogdan (cruciate ligament rupture) and midfielder Adam Lallana (Hamstring) are out for the Tuesday matchup.
Hoffenheim (Ger) vs. Liverpool (Eng) – Match Prediction
This is probably the most exciting matchup of the round and I think that Liverpool presents a stronger opponent. Still, both teams like to play offensive football and like to score plenty of goals, so I expect nothing else in this game either. Go with the over and both teams to score.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-118)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score YES (-145)
Sporting (Por) vs. FCSB (Rou)
Three-Way: 1: Sporting -294; X: +450; FCSB +1282
Spread: -1.5: Sporting +102; FCSB -108
Total +2.5: Over +104; Under -109
SPORTING
The Sporting Lisbon team is beside Hoffenheim and Liverpool one of the five teams that entered the competition in this playoff round but they were much luckier in the draw as they are set to meet the Romanian Champions FC Steaua Bucharest. They finished the 2016/17 season ranked third in the Portuguese Premier League behind Porto and Benfica but the group stage of UEFA Champions League should not come in question. They started this season in the national championship with two wins and are currently ranked on the top of the league table.
Several players were sent on loan spells while seven guys left the team including centre-back Ruben Semedo who signed with the Spanish side Villarreal CF for a fee worth 14.00 Mill. Euros. On the other side, eight new players joined the team and the most prominent acquisitions were winger Marcos Acuna who came from Argentinean side Racing Club (9.60 Mill. Euros) and central midfielder Bruno Fernandes who came from Italian side Sampdoria (8.50 Mill. Euros). Manager Jorge Jesus will have his entire roster available.
FCSB
The Romanian champions FC Steaua Bucharest entered the competition in the third qualifying round and went past Czech Premier League runners-up team Viktoria Plzen 6:3 in aggregate. Now they face an almost impossible task of defeating one of the UEFA Champions League group stage most regular competitors, FC Sporting. They are not without chances but their eventual advance would be considered as a big upset.
The team added ten new players to its roster during this offseason and the most notable addition was defensive midfielder Dragos Nedelcu who came from FC Vitorul for a fee worth 1.50 Mill. Euros. On the other side, seven players left the team including central midfielder Fernando Boldrin who signed with Turkish side Kayserispor for a fee worth 1.20 Mill. Euros. Midfielders Constantin Budescu (muscle) and Filipe Teixeira (sprain) are unavailable for Tuesday’s matchup.
Sporting (Por) vs. FCSB (Rou) – Match Prediction
Home team win can be considered as an easy money here. There is no place for over thinking this one. The Asian handicap is offering +102 on a +1.5 win for the Portuguese team, so I suggest taking this great offer!!!
MY PICK: Sporting AH +1.5 (+102)
Young Boys (Sui) vs. CSKA Moscow (Rus)
Three-Way: 1: Young Boys +156; X: +250; CSKA Moscow +200
Spread 0: Young Boys -111; CSKA Moscow +117
Total +2.5: Over -108; Under +100
YOUNG BOYS
The Swiss Champions already went by one great eastern European team as they defeated Dynamo Kyiv in the third qualifying round 3:3 in aggregate (away goal rule) and if they can take out the most successful team from Moscow, the double punch against the Easterners will be finalized. Still, that’s much easier said than done and the odds are not in their favor.
During the offseason, two very important starters left the team as defensive midfielder Denis Zakaria signed with Borussia M’Gladbach (12.00 Mill. Euros) and goalie Yvon Mvogo signed with RB Leipzig (5.00 Mill. Euros). On the other side, several new players were signed and the most notable addition was central midfielder Djibril Sow who came from Bor. M’Gladbach for a fee worth 2.00 Mill. Euros. Left Midfielder Taulant Seferi (groin) will not be available for the Tuesday’s matchup.
CSKA MOSCOW
The last season Russian Premier League runners-up team defeated the Greek representatives AEK Athens team in the third qualifying round of the competition (3:0 in aggregate) thus advancing one step further towards the UEFA Champions League group stage. They are the favorites in the matchup against the Swiss side but there is no time for relaxing if they want to accomplish their mission.
During the offseason, three players left the team including striker Kirill Panchenko who signed with Dinamo Moscow for a fee worth 1.80 Mill. Euros. On the other side, three youngsters were promoted from the CSKA Moscow II team. It’s uncertain if goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev will be available to manager Viktor Goncharenko because of some knee afflictions.
Young Boys (Sui) vs. CSKA Moscow (Rus) – Match Prediction
Very exciting matchup as both teams have solid chances of advancing to the next round. I think that this first leg might be entered carefully by both teams and my safe bet here would be under 2.5 goals in total.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (+100)
