Dream of every soccer fan is to see his team participate in the highest level of the European team competition and the name of that competition is the UEFA Champions League.
In order to get to the most important stage, the group stage that features 32 clubs, the teams from the states with lower country coefficients (number calculated in correlation of the country in question teams’ results in the European team competitions in the past years) have to go through three qualifying rounds and one playoff round.
This system provides us with ten teams that will join 22 already known squads that have earned the berth for the group stage through their national league competitions. For example, first three ranked teams in the English Premier League earn an automatic group stage berth while the fourth ranked squad has to participate in the play-off qualification round in order to get there.
Ludogorets (Bul) vs. Zalgiris (Ltu)
Three-Way: 1: Ludogorets -400; X: +600; Zalgiris +1514
Spread -1.5: Ludogorets -127; Zalgiris +122
Total +3: Over +108; Under -125
LUDOGORETS
The Ludogorets Razgrad team suffered a surprising 2:1 defeat in the first leg on the road in Vilnius against a relatively weaker opponent and now they face certain uncertainty about the Champions League next stage advancement that was predicted after they draw the Lithuanian Champion.
Striker Anicet Abel sent the Bulgarian side in front early in the game with a nice goal but Serge Nyuiadzi and Mantas Kuklys completed a last 12 minutes comeback with one goal each for the home team.
Team sold two important pieces from the last season squad as defenders Jose Luis Palomino (signed for Atalanta for a fee worth 4.00 Million Euros) and Brayan Angulo (signed for Mexican side Puebla for a fee worth 350.000 Euros) while three new players strengthened their roster including young prospect, midfielder Tsvetoslav Petkov who was promoted from teams U19 squad. Ludogorets team doesn’t have any injured layers reported.
ZALGIRIS
The Lithuanian champion Zalgiris from Vilnius was the proprietor of one of the surprising first leg results as they managed to defeat the team whose roster worth eight times more than its own.
Now they are one more step from creating one of the biggest sensations in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Soccer is not the most popular sport in Lithuania (Basketball), neither it’s the second most popular sport there (Rugby) but guys from Zalgiris are certainly working on that matter.
Five new players were signed during the offseason including the veteran centre-forward Darvydas Sernas who signed for the team as a free agent. Also, four youngsters from the U19 squad were promoted to the first team. On the other side 12 players left the team, mostly as free agents or on a free transfer basis. Manager Valdas Dambrauskas will not have winger Saulius Mikoliunas (ruptured knee ligament) at his disposal.
Ludogorets (Bul) vs. Zalgiris (Ltu) – Match Prediction:
I know that the Lithuanian team showed some grit in the first leg and I know that their moral might be high right now but I just can’t go against the team that is talent-packed as the Bulgarian champion. My money goes on the home team’s win.
MY PICK: Ludogorets -1.5 AH (-127)
Maribor (Slo) vs. Zrinjski (BiH).
Three-Way: 1: Maribor -145; X: +308; Zrinjski +500
Spread: -1: Maribor +121; Zrinjski -115
Total +2.5: Over -109; Under -104
MARIBOR
The Slovenian champions managed to snatch a 2:1 road win in the final minutes of the first leg match and now they are cruising safely towards the next stage of the Champions League. Victory followed by the two goals on the road is usually more than enough to secure the aggregate win. Heroes from the game in Mostar were Luka Zahovic and Marcos Tavares with one goal each and we’ll see if they can repeat similar performances at home.
During the offseason they signed one of their current opponent’s best players, striker Jasmin Mesanovic on a free transfer, thus weakening their foes greatly. Five youngsters were promoted from the U19 team while defender Jean-Claude Billong who played last season for the national league rival Rudar Velenje also signed for the team. On the other side five players are no longer the part of team’s roster including striker Milivoje Novakovic who retired. Midfielder Damjan Bohar (Knee) and centre-back Marko Suler (ankle) are not available for the rematch.
ZRINJSKI
The Bosnian champion who comes from the beautiful city of Mostar will probably end its UEFA Champions League appearance after this round. Home loss in the first leg is probably too much to come back from and the team will be able to concentrate on the near start of the national league.
Like in many other examples, soccer team competition in Bosnia is not even close to the quality of their national squad but certain steps forward in that direction were made lately as two other Bosnian teams managed to qualify to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League competition.
During the offseason 11 new players were signed (all on a free transfer basis) while six players left the team including above mentioned striker Jasmin Mesanovic who signed for their current UEFA Champions League opponents NK Maribor. Manager Blaz Sliskovic has his entire roster available for the Wednesday’s game.
Maribor (Slo) vs. Zrinjski (BiH) – Match Prediction:
The Slovenian champion is much stronger team at the moment and another home win will possibly take place. Not many unknowns here, but I will go with the over as I think that the visitors will open up in hope of scoring some goal.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-109)
Salzburg (Aut) vs. Hibernians (Mlt)
Three-Way: 1: Salzburg -1111; X: +1225; Hibernians +5100
Spread: -3: Salzburg +102; Hibernians -111
Total +4: Over +104; Under -130
SALZBURG
The Austrian champions Salzburg draw probably the weakest opponents in this stage of Champions League competition. First leg on Malta went very smoothly for the team from the Mozart’s home town as Valon Berisha, Hee-Chan Hwang and Takumi Minamino scored one goal each to give their team big 3:0 deposit in front of the rematch. Second leg should be the matter of formality.
During the offseason team sold their two last season’s best players as winger Wanderson signed for Krasnodar for a fee of 8.00 Million Euros and midfielder Konrad Laimer signed for RB Leipzig for a fee of 7.00 Million Euros. On the other side six young players signed for the team including centre-back Marin Pongracic who came from Munich 1860 for a fee worth 1.00 Million Euros. Striker Samuel Tetteh (Meniscus), midfielder Xaver Schlager (Ankle) and right-back Stefan Lainer (Torn ligament) are unavailable for the rematch.
HIBERNIANS
The Maltese champion Hibernians team managed to qualify to the second qualifying round after eliminating Estonia’s champion FCI Tallin 3:0 on aggregate in the first qualifying round. Two goals from Jorginho and one from Bjorn Kristensen were enough to outscore and outplay the Estonians but the situation proved to be different in the next stage of competition as they suffered a 3:0 home defeat in the first leg.
During the offseason two new players were signed including attacking midfielder Marco Sahanek who came from Erste Liga’s side FAC on a free transfer while four players left the team. English manager Mark Miller will have his entire roster available for the rematch.
Salzburg (Aut) vs. Hibernians (Mlt) – Match Prediction:
This is one of the biggest mismatches of the round and a big difference home win will probably take place. However, I do think that the game will feature less than 4 goals total.
MY PICK: Under 4 goals (-130)
