The qualifying rounds for this year’s UEFA Champions League and Europa League continue this week, with several tasty looking ties to look forward to. With the likes of Legia Warsaw, Copenhagen and Rosenborg – among many others – now entering the Champions League, things should start to get interesting.
After Rangers’ shock exit in the previous round of the Europa League, coupled with St Johnstone’s loss to Trakai, Derek McInnes’s Aberdeen are the only side left flying Scotland’s flag in the Europa League. Last season’s Scottish Premiership runners-up get their campaign underway against Siroki Brijeg this Thursday.
- Hapoel Beer Sheva v Budapest Honved – Hapoel Beer Sheva to Win -1 (5/4 at BetVictor)
- Malmo v Vardar – Malmo to Win 2-0 (11/2 at BetVictor)
- IFK Mariehamn v Legia Warsaw – Both Teams to Score (5/4 at Betfair)
- Dundalk v Rosenborg – Draw (12/5 at Coral)
- Progress Niederkorn v AEL Limassol – Progres Niederkorn to Win (9/1 at BetVictor)
- Aberdeen v Siroki Brijeg – Aberdeen to Win to Nil (6/5 at Sky Bet)
Champions League
After an interesting batch of Champions League first qualifying round results, will we be in for any more shocks in the second qualifying round? The big guns will be expecting to book their place in the third round, whereas the minnows will be looking for an upset.
Hapoel Beer Sheva v Budapest Honved – 12th July
Hapoel Beer Sheva, who gave Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic a run for their money in last season’s play-off round, begin their journey this year against Budapest Honved of Hungary.
Hapoel earned their place in the Champions League second qualifying round by winning the regular season title in Israel, as well as storming their way to top spot in the championship round. As for Honved, they won the top league in Hungary by three points.
Hapoel are the strong favourites to seal a first leg win on Wednesday, and we can’t see the visitors causing any shocks in this one. Check out BetVictor’s 5/4 for the hosts to win with a -1 goal handicap.
Hapoel Beer Sheva to Win -1 – 5/4 at BetVictor
Malmo v Vardar – 12th July
The 19-time and reigning Swedish champions Malmo welcome Macedonian First League champions Vardar to the Swedbank Stadion on Wednesday. As expected, Magnus Pehrsson’s side are the strong favourites to progress.
However, Vardar were impressive on their way to a fifth straight Macedonian league title last year, winning the division by 13 points. They will no doubt travel to Sweden hoping for a positive result.
Malmo should have enough in their locker to see off Vardar with ease on Wednesday, so take a look at BetVictor’s generous price of 11/2 for the hosts to win 2-0.
Malmo to Win 2-0 – 11/2 at BetVictor
IFK Mariehamn v Legia Warsaw – 12th July
Jacek Magiera’s Legia Warsaw make the trip to the Wiklof Holding Arena to face IFK Mariehamn as favourites to leave with a first leg lead. Can they kick their Champions League qualifying campaign off with a win?
It will not be an easy task for the Ekstraklasa champions, as last year’s Finish title winners are very strong on their own patch. This season, however, they find themselves in fourth place after 17 matches.
Warsaw will be banking on bringing home a handsome first leg lead, but we feel it could be tight game in Mariehamn. Therefore, the standout bet is both teams to score, which is available at 5/4 with Betfair.
Both Teams to Score – 5/4 at Betfair
Dundalk v Rosenborg – 12th July
The League of Ireland Premier Division champions Dundalk kick their Champions League campaign off with a tough-looking fixture against European regulars Rosenborg.
After a memorable campaign in the Europa League last year, can Dundalk make it through to the Champions League this term? Last season, the Irish side did themselves proud in a group with the likes of Zenit Saint Petersburg, AZ Alkmaar and Maccabi Tel Aviv, even managing to beat Maccabi along the way.
The Norwegian outfit, meanwhile, may have lost their way in Europe in recent years, but they are still a force to be reckoned with on their day. Nevertheless, we believe the hosts are good enough to hold Rosenborg to a draw, with Coral’s 12/5 being your best price.
Draw – 12/5 at Coral
Europa League
Nobody was expecting Pedro Caixinha’s Rangers to fall at the first hurdle in the Europa League last week, especially against little-known Luxembourg outfit Progres Niederkorn. However, that just shows what can happen in these unpredictable qualification matches. We’ll be focussing on Niederkorn’s match with AEL Limassol, as well as Aberdeen’s tie with Siroki Brijeg.
Progres Niederkorn v AEL Limassol – 13th July
After shocking Rangers in the previous round, Progres Niederkorn will fancy their chances of upsetting AEL Limassol on Thursday. However, Limassol romped to a 10-0 aggregate victory in their opening EL qualification tie.
After losing the first leg 1-0 in front of a packed Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, the Luxembourg National Division side did a remarkable job turning the tie on its head in their own back yard.
Limassol will no doubt pose a different kind of threat, but there’s no reason why Progres can’t do it again. At 9/1 (BetVictor) for a home win, we feel that’s a price well worth having a punt on.
Progres Niederkorn to Win – 9/1 at BetVictor
Aberdeen v Siroki Brijeg – 13th July
Derek McInnes’s Aberdeen welcome Siroki Brijeg to Pittodrie this Thursday night for the first leg of their second qualifying round tie. The Dons will certainly be looking to take a lead to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Aberdeen had an outstanding season last year, finishing runners-up to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. The Hoops may have been miles ahead of anybody in Scotland, but McInnes’s men were no doubt the best of the rest.
After falling at the third qualifying round three years in a row, can Aberdeen qualify to the group stage of the Europa League this season? We fancy them to make a great start on Thursday, with Sky Bet’s 6/5 for Aberdeen to win to nil standing out.
Aberdeen to Win to Nil – 6/5 at Sky Bet