Qualifying for this year’s UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League is starting to heat up. We’ve reached qualifying round three, which means there are only two rounds left before we know who will participate in Europe’s elite club competitions this season.
We’ll be previewing the pick of midweek’s action, including Celtic’s fixture with Rosenborg in the Champions League, as well as big-spending Everton’s match in the Europa League against Ruzomberok.
- Partizan Belgrade v Olympiacos – Draw (2/1 at Betfred)
- Dynamo Kiev v Young Boys – Dynamo Kiev to Win and Both Teams to Score (12/5 at Bet365)
- Celtic v Rosenborg – Celtic to Win 2-0 (13/2 at BetVictor)
- Nice v Ajax – Nice to Win (7/5 at BetVictor)
- Aberdeen v Apollon Limassol – Aberdeen to Win to Nil (9/4 at BetVictor)
- Everton v Ruzomberok – Everton to Win 3-0 (11/2 at Betfair)
Champions League
With just two qualifying rounds left, several of the big boys are entering this Champions League qualification stage. The likes of Celtic, Rosenborg, Legia Warsaw and FC Copenhagen have come through some tricky ties already, whilst Nice, Ajax, Club Brugge and CSKA Moscow are joining the party and will be determined to progress.
Partizan Belgrade v Olympiacos – 25th July
We kick things off with the intriguing looking Champions League third qualifying round first leg tie between Partizan Belgrade and Olympiacos. On paper, these two seem pretty evenly matched, which should make for an interesting contest on Tuesday evening. Both have plenty of big European experience and will certainly feel they deserve to be in the group phase of this lucrative competition.
After winning the Serbian SuperLiga Championship round last season, Partizan have given themselves a crack at Champions League qualification this term. They beat Buducnost Podgorica in round two. As for Olympiacos, they finished top of the pile in Greece last year to qualify for the CL third qualifying round direct.
We feel there’s a strong possibly these two will cancel each other out in Belgrade. Therefore, check out Betfred’s decent price of 2/1 for this one to end all square at the Partizan Stadium, whilst 1-1 also looks worth a punt at longer odds.
Draw – 2/1 at Betfred
Dynamo Kiev v Young Boys – 26th July
Dynamo Kiev and Young Boys are also making their first appearances in this season’s competition, when they square off at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex this Wednesday. Again, they are both sides who know all about this competition and will be looking to progress beyond this stage.
Being on home soil in the first leg, Kiev head into this one as the favourites with the bookies. However, Young Boys have had one or two memorable European nights in recent years, can they cause an upset in Ukraine this week?
We believe this one could be another tight affair. However, we do fancy the home side to just about do enough to nick it. Kiev to win and both teams to score, which is available at 12/5 with Bet365, stands out.
Dynamo Kiev to Win and Both Teams to Score – 12/5 at Bet365
Celtic v Rosenborg – 26th July
After easing past Linfield in the previous round, Celtic’s journey to reach the Champions League proper continues with a tricky looking tie against Rosenborg, who eventually saw off Dundalk in qualifying round two.
As with the previous ties we have looked at, these two have been regulars in Europe in recent times, but one of them has to go at the third qualifying round stage this year. The Bhoys, who were unbeaten in all competitions in Scotland last year, will be looking for a first leg lead on home soil.
It’s no surprise to see Brendan Rodgers’ men as the clear favourites in this one, and we think they will be too strong for their Norwegian opponents on Wednesday. Take a look at BetVictor’s 13/2 for the Hoops to win 2-0 at Celtic Park. To play it a little safer back them to win to nil which also looks good value.
Celtic to Win 2-0 – 13/2 at BetVictor
Nice v Ajax – 26th July
The standout round of the tie is arguably the tasty looking matchup between Nice and Ajax, which would be a worthy group stage fixture. Both teams are entering the Champions League at this stage, but which one of these big guns will be exiting with their dreams in shatters?
After reaching the Europa League final last year, big things are expected of this young, talented Ajax side. The same can be said of Nice, however, as they had a season to remember in the French Ligue 1.
This first leg really is a tough one to call, but we feel home advantage could prove to be a deciding factor. We’re siding with a narrow home win, so BetVictor’s 7/5 for a Nice victory is the way to go in this one.
Nice to Win – 7/5 at BetVictor
Europa League
There are also several big matches taking place in the Europa League third qualifying round. Aberdeen, who overcame Siroki Brijeg in the previous round, welcome Apollon Limassol. Everton, meanwhile, are back in European action after a few years of missing out and begin their Europa League journey against Ruzomberok of Slovakia. Red Star Belgrade, AC Milan, Zenit Saint Petersburg and Athletic Bilbao are also featuring.
Aberdeen v Apollon Limassol – 27th July
After going out at this stage for three years on the bounce, Aberdeen will be desperate to make it through to the play-off round of the Europa League this time around. Standing in their way, though, are Apollon Limassol of Cyprus, who had a highly impressive domestic season last year.
Despite drawing their home leg 1-1 in round two, Derek McInnes’ men sealed a solid 2-0 win away from home against Siroki Brijeg to make it through. As for Limassol, they eased past Moldovan outfit Zaria Balti 5-1 on aggregate.
The Dons head into this one as favourites, and we can see them taking a lead to Cyprus with them. They won’t want to make the same mistake they did in the last round and fail to cash in on their home leg. The standout bet is the hosts to win to nil, with BetVictor’s 9/4 being your best price.
Aberdeen to Win to Nil – 9/4 at BetVictor
Everton v Ruzomberok – 27th July
Everton kick off their Europa League campaign with a first leg tie against Ruzomberok this Thursday. The Toffees are the overwhelming favourites to win at Goodison Park and progress to the play-off round overall.
After spending big and wisely during the summer, Ronald Koeman’s Everton outfit are all set to have a strong season. They have lost their star striker, Romelu Lukaku, to Man United but have vastly improved the depth of their squad and could be a surprise package this term. Therefore, a good run in Europe could be high on their wish list as they look to build and maintain momentum and the winning habit. Ruzomberok have seen off Vojvodina and Brann to reach the third qualifying round but this is undoubtedly a huge step up in class.
Everton will be hoping to take a big lead to Slovakia, and we can’t see them having any problems in this one. There’s good value in Betfair’s 11/2 for Koeman’s men to ease to a 3-0 victory on Thursday.
Everton to Win 3-0 – 11/2 at Betfair