As the competition toughens up, teams are getting ready to fight for a place in the Champions league in the second round, against better opponents than in the first round. Slovakian team Zilina will welcome Danish club FC Copenhagen, while Latvian club Spartaks entertain FC Astana from Kazakhstan. On the other side, APOEL will welcome Dudelange to Cyprus, and H. Beer Sheva from Israel play host to Hungary Based club Honved. All these teams will be hoping for their best possible performance so as to have a foot in the next round.
ZILINA (SVK) vs. FC COPENHAGEN (DEN)
Three-way: 1: Zilina +380; X: +261 Draw; 2: FC Copenhagen -115
Spread +0.5: Zilina +108; FC Copenhagen -115
Total +2.5: Over +117; Under -128
ZILINA (SVK)
Zilina ended their domestic league campaign with the silverware in their hands, which they won only after some tough competition against second placed Podbezova. Zilina had the best attack in the Fortuna Liga last season, with 74 goals scored, while conceding 33 in 33 matches in the league.
They have signed the young Slovakian wide-players Robert Polievka and Juraj Chvatal, on free transfer and on loan respectively.
Prior to this Champions League matchup, Zilina played four friendlies, with a record 1W-1D-2L, while scoring 12 goals, and conceding 13.
FC COPENHAGEN (DEN)
Copenhagen comes into this match on the back of a wonderful league campaign last season, where they finished first with a massive 12 points lead against Brondby who finished second. They have scored 57 goals and conceding just 10 goals throughout the entire league campaign.
They have already accumulated 11 million Euros through the sale of Ludwig, Andreas Cornelius and Zanka to Bremen, Atalan and Huddersfield respectively. Some of that accumulated capital was spent for the signings of the striker Pieros Sotiriou, defender Lueftner and left back Pierre Bengtsson.
They played three friendlies prior to this Champions League matchup, losing one, and drawing two, with the loss coming on away ground.
ZILINA (SVK) vs. FC COPENHAGEN (DEN) – Match Prediction:
Both teams are eager to showcase their best performances in their opening performance of the Champions League campaign. However, having a look at Copenhagen’s squad and recent transfers, it seems that an away win is the most likely result. Therefore, my prediction will be a win for FC Copenhagen.
MY PICK: FC COPENHAGEN (-115)
SPARTAKS (LAT) vs. FC ASTANA (KAZ)
Three-way: 1: Spartaks +603; X: +328 Draw; 2: FC Astana -159
Spread +1: Spartaks -112; FC Astana +104
Total +2.5: Over +120; Under -130
SPARTAKS (LAT)
The team from Latvia is currently on top of the domestic league table with 22 points. They are on a good path to repeating their last seasons success in which they won the domestic title, with four points ahead of the second placed team Jelgava, scoring 46 goals in 28 matches, while they also boasted of the best defense in the league with just 22 goals conceded.
They have signed the experienced forward Aziz Ibragimov and keeper Vitalijs Melnicenko, both on free transfers.
Their last official match was a domestic cup match played on July 7th, which they won 0:2 away, which means that they will be high on confidence going into the Champions League clash against FC Astana.
FC ASTANA (KAZ)
Astana ended their season with a comfortable lead of seven points as they won the league title. They weren’t very good in attack with just 34 goals scored in 22 matches, but they were very solid defensively, as they conceded only 14 goals, en route to the title.
They haven’t made any permanent signings so far, but they have managed to loan Werder Bremen midfielder Laszlo Kleinheisler for the season.
Astana has been on a five match winning streak, all in the domestic league, during which they have kept four clean sheets, scoring 14 and allowing only 2 goals. In addition, it is important to note that Astana currently tops the domestic league with 48 points in 20 matches.
SPARTAKS (LAT) vs. FC ASTANA (KAZ) – Match Prediction:
Recent results for both teams have been positive, which indicates that morale will be high in both dressing rooms. However, even though it is an away match for FC Astana, they look much better equipped to take home all three points. Therefore, I suggest that putting money on an away win will be a safe bet. This could also be a low scoring matchup, so I am putting up the under as well.
MY PICK: FC ASTANA (-159)
Additional Pick: Under 2.5 goals (-130)
APOEL (CYP) vs. DUDELANGE (LUX)
Three-Way: 1: APOEL -526; X: +707 Draw; 2: Dudelange +1805
Spread -2: APOEL +104; Dudelange +100
Total +3: Over -110; Under -102
APOEL (CYP)
APOEL finished their last domestic league campaign with an exciting end of the season battle to edge out Larnaca, which they finally did and finished with a four point lead on their road to the title. They were the most prolific offensive team, with 62 goals, while also having the best defense with just 16 conceded in the entire league campaign.
They have signed two talented wingers in Andreas Makris from Walsall and Tommy Oar from Brisbane Roar, with Tommy being signed on a free transfer.
APOEL has played three friendly matches prior to this Champions League qualifier, and won all three, scoring five goals and conceding three.
DUDELANGE (LUX)
Dudelange had an absolutely nail biting finish to the end of the league campaign. They edged out the second position only on goal difference. They had the tightest defense in the league with just 14 goals conceded, while they scored 68 goals in 26 matches.
They have strengthened their ranks as they have signed three wide-players. Antonio Luisi, Niko Dobros, and Danel Sinani, all three youngsters are joining on free transfers.
APOEL (CYP) vs. DUDELANGE (LUX) – Match Prediction:
Both teams have had a good end to their seasons, and have made seemingly smart signings. However, keeping in mind the fact that this is a home game for APOEL, a home win in this match is going to be the most likely outcome. Therefore, my bet will be on APOEL grabbing all the three points with a comfortable win, which is why I am tipping on the AH -2, offered at +104.
MY PICK: APOEL AH -2 (+104)
HAPOEL BEER SHEVA (ISR) vs. HONVED (HUN)
Three-way: 1: H. Beer Sheva -238; X: +394 Draw; 2: Honved +950
Spread -1.5: H. Beer Sheva +127; Honved -128
Total +2.5: Over +108; Under -115
HAPOEL BEER SHEVA (ISR)
Hapoel won the league in Israel after a close competition with Maccabi Tel Aviv, who finished three points below. Hapoel were the tightest team at back, as they only let in 13 goals in 26 matches, while scoring 54, the most in the league.
Their Marquee signing this transfer window has been the former Granada winger Isaac Cuenca who has been signed on a free transfer.
Their last three matches were club friendlies. They lost the first one to Lech Poznan, while winning the next two.
HONVED (HUN)
Like their opponents, Honved also won the league title last season with a three point lead. However, they weren’t the best in either side of the pitch. They scored 55 goals, while conceding 30 in 33 matches in the league.
They have signed three Hungarian players this year. Defenders Istvan Deak and Zsolt Laczko, along with midfielder Poloskei, were all signed on free transfers.
They recently played three club friendlies, in which they had a draw, followed by two wins.
BEER SHEVA (ISR) vs. HONVED (HUN) – Match Prediction:
Even though both the teams have had similar kind of results in the preseason friendlies, their Champions League match looks like one where Hapoel will take home the win. Moreover, considering the fact that this is a home game for the Israeli team, an away win looks highly unlikely. None of the teams has been too efficient in scoring goals, which is why I expect a tough contest on both sides of the pitch giving us an opportunity to place some money on the Under!!!
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-115)
