MY ACCOUNT
There are 10 matches to look forward to in the Champions League on Tuesday as the first round of qualifying concludes this week.
The likes of Qarabag FK, Lech Poznan, FC Sheriff, Shamrock Rovers, Bodo/Glimt, Ludogorets and Malmo are all in action, and there is still plenty of work to do at this stage of the competition.
Qarabag FK vs Lech Poznan (Tuesday, 5pm)
The tie between Qarabag FK and Lech Poznan is delicately poised as the two teams prepare to do battle at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium.
FC Zurich await the winners in the second round, and it is the Polish outfit that currently hold a 1-0 advantage.
Team news
Brazilian forward Kady is likely to be Qarabag’s main source for goals, he finished as the club’s joint leading scorer last season and is almost certain to start.
The recent departure of Patrick Andrade to Partizan Belgrade means Richard Almeida and Qara Qarayev are likely to feature in the middle of the park, while there could be a first competitive start for summer signing Marko Jankovic.
Lech Poznan are expected to revert back to a similar XI to the one that started last week’s first leg after coach John van den Brom opted to make changes for the weekend defeat to Rakow in the Polish Super Cup.
The stats
Azerbaijani champions Qarabag have not lost at home since February and they have scored four or more goals in seven of their 11 home fixtures since.
Lech were poor in defeat to Rakow last time out, but they did end last season by winning five away matches on the spin.
Predictions
Qarabag failed to take their chances during the first leg, but the signs suggest that Lech are far from the finished product given their own poor showing at the weekend.
That could lead to the hosts overturning their first-leg deficit, although Lech will fancy their chances of at least taking the game to extra-time.
Klaksvik vs Bodo/Glimt (Tuesday, 7pm)
It will take some comeback from Klaksvik to put their name in the hat for the second qualifying round, following a 3-0 win for Bodo/Glimt in the first leg.
The winner will tackle either The New Saints or Linfield in the next stage.
Team news
Klaksvik are unlikely to make too many changes from the first leg and hopes of staging a remarkable turnaround are likely to rest on the shoulders of forward Pall Klettskaro, who has scored 10 goals in 14 appearances to date this term.
Bodo/Glimt are also expected to keep their changes to a minimum, with last week’s hat-trick hero Victor Boniface set to lead the line once again.
The stats
Bodo/Glimt reached the quarter-finals of last year’s Europa Conference League, winning away at Celtic and drawing at both AZ Alkmaar and Roma during a successful campaign.
Klaksvik are top of the Faroe Islands Premier League and boast a formidable home record, winning 15 games on the spin on their own patch, although none of those victories have come against a team as strong as Bodo/Glimt.
Predictions
This should be a routine passage through for Bodo/Glimt, who boast far more quality and European experience than their opponents.
Anything short of a victory in the Faroe Islands would be a disappointment for Kjetil Knutsen’s side.
Vikingur Reykjavik vs Malmo (Tuesday, 8.30pm)
There were goals aplenty during the first meeting last week, and neither Vikingur Reykjavik nor Malmo will be going down without a fight this time around.
Malmo managed to secure a 3-2 advantage in Sweden but they will know there is still work to do as they prepare to travel to Iceland.
Team news
Vikingur will be without striker Kristall Mani Ingason, who scored their opening goal last week, as he was subsequently sent off during the first half.
Helgi Gudjonsson is in line to replace the 20-year-old after he came off the bench to net at the Eleda Stadion.
Dennis Hadzikadunic is expected to return in a boost for Malmo, with Soren Rieks, Oscar Lewicki and Adi Nalic all sidelined and Anel Ahmedhodzic recently completing a move to Sheffield United.
The stats
Vikingur have won nine of their last 10 matches across all competitions, the only exception being last week’s defeat in Sweden.
Malmo have failed to score in their previous three Champions League matches away from home, but those fixtures came against Zenit Saint Petersburg, Chelsea and Juventus, so Tuesday’s tie should be much more appealing for the Swedish outfit.
Predictions
If the first meeting is anything to go by, then fans should expect another high-scoring, ill-tempered affair.
Last week’s first leg in Sweden was certainly a busy one for the officials, with no fewer than eight yellow cards and one red card being shown.
Picking a winner looks tough on paper, but over 2.5 goals could prove the way to go, especially when Vikingur’s last seven matches at home have all contained at least three goals.
