Ten more matchups that are the part of the second leg of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League competition will take place on Wednesday and there are still many very exciting clashes that are facing a big uncertainty about which team will advance.
These qualifying rounds are here to filter the competition in order to get the strongest teams in its final phase but nevertheless, couple of newcomers reach the group stage every year and couple of the old and “native” teams in this competition don’t. Although it’s still early to predict the look of the eight groups, candidates for the “newcomers” are gradually being unveiled and some fan groups are about to have the best year of their life when it comes to the supporting of their beloved squad.
Dudelange (Lux) vs. APOEL (Cyp)
Three-Way: 1: Dudelange +250; X: +241; 2: APOEL +125
Spread +0.5: Dudelange -132; APOEL +123
Total +2.5: Over +114; Under -125
DUDELANGE
The thirteen times Luxembourg’s national champion F91 Dudelange team has a solid chance of advancing to the next round of the Champions League after ending the first leg game on the road with a minimal 1:0 loss.
Team held its ground until the final twenty minutes of the clash when Cyprians scored the only goal of the match after a counter-attack like action. The doors to the next stage are still open and the fans are creating a big hype because no Luxembourgian team has been this close to the third qualifying round lately.
Team’s roster is unrecognizable opposed to the last season as eight new players were signed and nine left the team, including three guys that were sent to the other teams as parts of loan agreements. Most notable acquisition is the left midfielder Niko Dobros who came from German side SC Paderborn on a free transfer. Manager Dino Toppmoller will not have the entire roster available as midfielder Rodrigue Dikaba has some knee injury problems.
APOEL
The most famous Cyprian team, APOEL Nicosia who has 26 national championship titles and 21 Cyprian cup winner titles is significantly weakened this year as they sold their best player, striker Pieros Sotiriou to FC Copenhagen during this offseason for a fee of 2.5 Million Euros. Although the team’s bank accounts are full, the fans might not be very satisfied, especially after a poor performance in the first leg against far lower ranked opponent and a skinny 1:0 home win.
As mentioned above, they sold their best player and three other players also left while ten new guys signed for the team. Most noticeable addition was twenty one years old right winger Andreas Makris who came from English side Walsall FC for a fee worth 200.000 Euros. Dutch manager Mario Been will have his entire roster available for Wednesday.
Dudelange (Lux) vs. APOEL (Cyp) – Match Prediction:
Although the Cyprian team was not very convincing in the first round, by my opinion they are still the big favorites in this matchup and I think that they can record a road win against the Luxembourgian champion.
MY PICK: APOEL (+125)
Rosenborg (Nor) vs. Dundalk (Irl).
Three-Way: 1: Rosenborg -200; X: +357; 2: Dundalk +694
Spread -1: Rosenborg -132; Dundalk +119
Total +2.5: Over -116; Under +104
ROSENBORG
The Norwegian champions Rosenborg team snatched a draw in the first leg in Ireland and face a realistic chances of advancing to the next stage of the Champions League.
Team fell behind early in the first half before Tore Reginiussen scored an equalizer one minute before the break. A road draw with a goal scored is always a welcoming result and the Norwegians are probably already thinking about their next stage opponents.
During the offseason team was very active on the transfer market signing 11 new players including right-back Vegar Eggen Hedenstad who came from German team FC St. Pauli for a fee worth 800.000 Euros. On the other side, 11 guys left the team including striker Christian Gytkjaer (signed for Munich 1860 for a fee worth 2.25 Million Euros) and defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (signed for Maccabi Haifa for a fee worth 1.10 Million Euros). Head coach Kare Ingerbrigtsen will not have midfielder Magnus Stamnestro at his disposal because of the knee injury.
DUNDALK
The Irish champions Dundalk team entered the first leg of the Champions League match very aggressively and that effort paid off in the 18th minute of the game when David McMillan scored an opener to send the fans at the Oriel Park go frantic.
As the game went further the difference in the team’s strengths started to become very obvious and before the end of the half the Norwegian visitors scored an equalizer. Nevertheless, the 1:1 draw at home is a good result against the team whose roster costs about 17 times more in the transfer market than Dundalk’s.
During the offseason three players went back to the team after their loan spells and attacking midfielder Dylan Connolly was signed from the national league rivals Bray Wanderers for an undisclosed fee worth. Youngster Keith Dalton left the team and signed for the Bohemians on a free transfer.
Rosenborg (Nor) vs. Dundalk (Irl) – Match Prediction:
The Norwegian champions are the big favorites in this one and anything but a next stage of the Champions League qualifying rounds would be a big surprise. Therefore, I expect a convincing win from the home side with a lot of goals scored.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-116)
FC Copenhagen (Den) vs. Zilina (Svk)
Three-Way: 1: FC Copenhagen -294; X: +530; Zilina +1000
Spread -1.5: FC Copenhagen -106; Zilina +108
Total +3: Over -108; Under +100
FC COPENHAGEN
The Danish champion FC Copenhagen team is one foot in the next round of the Champions League qualifiers after they managed to defeat their Slovakian opponents in the first leg as visitors, scoring three and conceding only one goal.
Slovaks were in front one goal after the first half but a swift hat-trick in last 20 minutes of the game by Serbian striker Andrija Pavlovic was enough to reduce the Zilina’s chances of advancing to the next round to the minimum.
Team was very active in the transfer market, selling four players for a combined fee of 12.35 Million Euros (Ludwig Augustinsson signed for Werder Bremen; Andreas Cornelius signed for Atalanta, Zanka signed for Huddersfield and Jores Okore signed for Aalborg BK).
On the other side they bought three players for a combined fee of 5.00 Million Euros (Pieros Sotiriou from APOEL Nicosia, Michael Luftner from Slavia Prag and Pierre Bengtsson from FSV Mainz 05). Right-back Peter Ankersen (malleolar injury) and midfielder Youssef Toutouh (suspension) are unavailable for the Wednesday’s clash.
ZILINA
The seven-time Slovakian national champions Zilina team is probably out of the UEFA Champions League competition as they recorded a home loss conceding three goals at home in the first leg. This kind of result makes it very difficult to keep the hope of advancing to the next stage and all they can do now is gains some experience in the high-level competition.
Team wasn’t very active on the transfer market during the offseason as only one new player was signed (left winger Robert Polievka who came from Dunajska Streda on an undisclosed fee worth) ant three guys returned to the team after their loan spells. On the other side four guys left the team including young right winger Lukas Cmelik but the worth of the transfer has not been disclosed. Manager Adrian Gula will not have his entire roster available for the rematch as goalie Milos Volesak will be out until at least August 15th with some knee afflictions.
FC Copenhagen (Den) vs. Zilina (Svk) – Match Prediction:
The result from the first leg showed the big difference in quality between these two squads and another certain win by the Danish side should take place. Also I think that the -1.5 spread on the FC Copenhagen sounds good and that’s where I would put my money.
MY PICK: FC Copenhagen -1.5 AH (-106)
Kukesi (Alb) vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (Mde)
Three-Way: 1: Kukesi +174; X: +227; Sheriff Tiraspol +179
Spread 0: Kukesi -110; Sferiff Tiraspol +100
Total +2.5: Over +127; Under -139
KUKESI
The Albanian Champion Kukesi team suffered a 1:0 defeat in the first leg and they are still hopeful about advancing to the next stage of the Champions League competition. Team held steady for the most part of the game but conceded a goal in the 79th minute after a penalty kick was awarded for the home side. Possible advancement to the next round would be considered as one of the biggest successes by the Albanian teams in European soccer competitions.
During the offseason four players left the team as the free agents while defender Albi Alla signed for the Greek side AE Larisa on a free transfer basis. Team strengthened its roster a bit by signing four players including Spanish centre-back Albert Serran who came from Doxa Katokopias also on a free transfer basis. Boss Ernest Gjoka will have his entire roster available for the rematch.
SHERIFF TIRASPOL
The sixteen-times Moldavian champions Sheriff Tiraspol team faces some realistic chances of the advancing to the next stage of the competition after recording a minimal but valuable victory in which they managed not to concede a goal at home soil. Percentage of the teams that advance to the next stage after a 1:0 home win in the UEFA Champions League is just above 65% and this season we might see the team from Moldavia ranking high in the qualification stage.
During the offseason team signed five new players including defensive midfielder Jeremy de Nooijer who came from Levski Sofia on a free transfer while nine players left the team including defender Vujadin Savic who signed for Red Star Belgrade after being released by the Moldavian team. Manager Roberto Bordin will have his entire roster available for the Wednesday’s match.
Kukesi (Alb) vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (Mda) – Match Prediction:
This is one of the most unpredictable matchups as both teams posses rosters of a relatively equal qualities. Also, I think that this game will not be high in scoring and my safe bet would be under 2.25 goals in total.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-139)
