Midweek European Football Betting Tips – 18th, 19th & 20th July 2017

With a place in the third round of UEFA Champions League qualifying up for grabs, we’ve got several mouth-watering and delicately poised second round second leg ties to get stuck into this week. We’ll be previewing four Champions League matches to keep you busy over the next few days.

Aberdeen and Shamrock Rovers have given themselves work to do in their UEFA Europa League ties, as they both face tricky second leg ties this Thursday.

With our Champions League and Europa League best odds, tips and predictions, we’ll be previewing six top European games, including Celtic’s match with Linfield and Aberdeen’s trip to Siroki Brijeg.

  • Vardar v Malmo – Malmo to Win (Evens at Bet365)
  • Honved v Hapoel Be’er Sheva – Draw (6/1 at Bet365)
  • Rosenborg v Dundalk – Rosenborg to Win -1 (6/5 at Coral)
  • Celtic v Linfield – Celtic to Win to Nil (1/2 at Betfair)
  • Mlada Boleslav v Shamrock Rovers – Both Teams to Score (5/6 at Betfred)
  • Siroki Brijeg v Aberdeen – Aberdeen to Win 2-0 (19/2 at BetVictor)

Champions League

We’re beginning to get to the business end of Champions League qualifying. With a number of big guns joining proceedings in the next two rounds, things are only going to get harder for the smaller sides. Despite plenty of mismatches, not many teams pulled away in the first legs, leaving several of the ties delicately poised as a consequence. Will Celtic ease through on home soil? Can Vardar cause an almighty shock against Malmo?

Vardar v Malmo – 18th July

Magnus Pehrsson’s Malmo would have no doubt been banking on taking a big lead to Macedonia to face Vardar in the second leg. However, Goce Sedloski’s men were superb in Sweden, fully deserving their 1-1 draw.

Being at home in the second leg, Vardar have given themselves an outstanding chance of pulling off a huge upset in this tie. Malmo, former European Cup runners-up, will certainly have their work cut out against the Macedonian First League champions.

Despite Vardar’s excellent result in Sweden, we believe Malmo will get the job done at the second time of asking on Tuesday. Therefore, Bet365’s evens for the visitors to win are well worth having a punt on.

Malmo to Win – Evens at Bet365

Ludogorets Razgrad v Zalgiris Vilnius – 19th July

Zalgiris Vilnius arguably pulled off the shock of the first leg ties, as they beat Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1 in the LFF Stadium. However, despite their handy lead, the side from Lithuania head to Bulgaria as the huge underdogs to qualify.

Razgrad were sloppy in the first leg, allowing an early lead to slip in the latter stages of the game. Goals from Serge Nyuiadzi and Mantas Kuklys turned the match on its head for the hosts and gave them real hope for the return.

Despite the bookies not giving them much of a chance, we believe the away side can frustrate their opponents once again. With that in mind, take a look at the draw, which is available at the temping price of 6/1 (Bet365).

Draw – 6/1 at Bet365

Rosenborg v Dundalk – 19th July

Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk put in a real shift in their first leg against Rosenborg at Oriel Park last week. The 1-1 draw in Dundalk has set up this second leg perfectly. Can the Irish side cause a huge shock on Wednesday night in Trondheim?

Even though they failed to hold onto the lead, a 1-1 draw for Dundalk was an excellent result against a side like Rosenborg, who have plenty of European experience and, relatively at least, lots of star quality. As expected, though, Kenny’s troops head to Norway as the big underdogs.

We expect Dundalk to put on another brave showing, but we do believe they will come up short on Wednesday. The standout bet is the hosts to win -1, which you can get at very solid looking odds of 6/5 with Coral.

Rosenborg to Win -1 – 6/5 at Coral

Celtic v Linfield – 19th July

Although they were not at their scintillating best against Linfield in the first leg at Windsor Park, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic were comfortable in their 2-0 win. An own goal set them on their way, with Tom Rogic adding a second midway through the first half.

The Bhoys will know this tie is not all done and dusted just yet, but you would be a brave person to bet against Celtic reaching the next round. Efficiency was key in Belfast for the Scottish champs, and they will be looking for another routine result in Glasgow on Wednesday.

We can see the Hoops keeping their Irish opponents at bay at Celtic Park in this one, so the hosts to win to nil (1/2 at Betfair) is the way to go in this second leg. For a longer odds bet, we think 4-0 or 5-0 both look decent calls in the correct score betting.

Celtic to Win to Nil – 1/2 at Betfair

Europa League

After falling out of the Europa League in qualifying three years in a row, Aberdeen will be desperate to make it through this year. They have given themselves plenty of work to do, however, only managing a 1-1 home draw with Siroki Brijeg. Can they seal a win in Bosnia & Herzegovina? We’ll also be looking at Shamrock Rovers’ tie with Mlada Boleslav.

Mlada Boleslav v Shamrock Rovers – 20th July

Stephen Bradley’s Shamrock Rovers have given themselves a real mountain to climb against Mlada Boleslav, having lost their home leg 3-2. Nonetheless, this one is not quite over yet.

It was a thrilling first leg in Dublin, with Graham Burke’s injury-time goal keeping Shamrock in the tie. Boleslav were no doubt the better side in the Tallaght Stadium, but the League of Ireland Premier Division side will back themselves to turn it around in the Czech Republic.

We believe Rovers have what it takes to cause one or two problems in the second leg, but we will have to wait and see whether that will be enough to keep them in the competition. Still, check out Betfred’s 5/6 for both teams to score in what should be another thrilling encounter.

Both Teams to Score – 5/6 at Betfred

Siroki Brijeg v Aberdeen – 20th July

Although the 1-1 draw at Pittodrie Stadium was not the result Derek McInnes’ Aberdeen were looking for, they are still the favourites to progress to the third qualifying round at Siroki Brijeg’s expense.

After an early goal from Ryan Christie, the Dons failed to build on that, allowing Stipo Markovic to equalise for the visitors with 20 minutes left on the clock. Despite huffing, puffing and pushing, Aberdeen had to settle for the 1-1 draw.

After sussing Brijeg out in the first leg, we fancy the Scottish Premiership runners-up to get the job done in the Stadion Pecara on Thursday. BetVictor are offering the tasty odds of 19/2 for the away side to win 2-0, a price we feel is worth having a punt on.

Aberdeen to Win 2-0 – 19/2 at BetVictor