Celtic head into their Champions League third round qualifying tie with HJK Helsinki as favourites to move a step closer towards a place in the group stages of the competition, though their opponents head into the match with wind in their sails.
The 2011 Finnish champions, who currently trail 2012 league leaders FC Inter by two points, qualified to face the SPL holders with a 9-1 aggregate victory over Icelandic side KR.
And, while questions could be raised about the standard of opposition, the impact a comfortable victory can have on a team ahead of a big match should not be underestimated.
HJK are priced at 6/1 to leave Celtic Park with a first-leg win on Wednesday, which seems extremely generous considering their hosts’ lack of competitive action in recent months.
Celtic are priced at 4/11 to take an advantage with them back to Iceland for the second leg, while a draw is available at 16/5.
But, when you consider as well that manager Neil Lennon could be without key attacking duo Anthony Stokes and Kris Commons for the clash, it may be difficult for the Glasgow side to break down their less illustrious opponents.
Elsewhere in the third qualifying round, Celtic’s SPL rivals Motherwell welcome Panathinaikos to Fir Park Stadium for what will be a big occasion for the old Lanarkshire club.
The Greeks finished second in last season’s Super League, while the Steelmen’s third-placed finish in last year’s SPL was enough to ignite their own hopes of mixing it with Europe’s biggest clubs in 2012/13.
Following the withdrawal from the SPL of Rangers, there is belief at Motherwell that the team can challenge Celtic’s domestic supremacy, and advancement in Europe will also be high on head coach Stuart McCall’s list of priorities.
His side are available in the match betting at 3/1 to win the first leg tie, while Panathinaikos are priced at 4/5 to ruin the party, with the draw up for grabs at 11/5.
It’s a tough game to call, but a siege mentality from the hosts could make life difficult for the Greeks, who could be prepared to settle for a draw to take back to Athens.
Another tie to look out for is the showdown in Denmark, where FC Copenhagen face Club Brugge.
The men from the Danish capital qualified from their group in the 2010/11 Champions League and will be desperate to replicate that success after failing to make the competition last season.
Brugge, meanwhile, will be looking to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 2005/06 season, when they defied the odds to take a point from Bayern Munich before bowing out at the group stage.
Copenhagen are priced 21/20 to win the game, while Brugge are at 21/10, and the draw is at 11/5. But a cursory glance at the two teams’ domestic fortunes last season indicates there perhaps isn’t as much between these two sides as those odds suggest.
With that in mind, a punt on Brugge at relatively long odds could be a decent option here.
Finally, Bate Borisov will look to reach the group stages of the Champions League for a second consecutive year, but must first overcome Debrecen, who were comfortable winners in their second qualifying round tie against Albanian champions Skenderbeu Korce.
Debrecen have not reached the ‘competition proper’ since 2010/11, but, following their comfortable Hungarian league triumph in 2011/2, they will approach this challenge with confidence.
Bate are the favourites at 4/5 in the match betting, though Debrecen’s odds of 3/1 bely the team’s ability and recent form, so a bet here on the visitors at such a good price would make a lot of sense.
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к которому будут прикованы взоры на протяжении ближайших 10 месяцев. Да – это Лига Чемпионов! В столице Украины уже улеглись страсти после Евро-2012, а «Динамо» Киев 1.55 уже стартует в Лиге Чемпионов.
со сборной Китая. После завершения карьеры Яо Мином в составе китайцев больше нет звезд мирового уровня, так что этот матч может стать продолжением игры со сборной Великобритании.
Arsenal captain Robin van Persie’s future is well and truly in the spotlight, but the Holland star owes the Gunners some loyalty despite their lack of silverware (Arsenal 1/6 to win no trophies in 2012-13).
могли увидеть настоящие гонки Формулы-1, а затем становясь после Монако самым медленным автодромом в чемпионате. В былые годы, после квалификации гонку можно было не проводить, а сразу смотреть, кто какое место занял в квалификации и почти в том же порядке записывать в протокол. Хорошо, что в последние годы появился DRS, хоть как-то помогает добавить интриги.
российским футболом. «Локо» будет дебютировать на своем поле в этом сезоне. Уверен, что для Славена Билича это будет очень важный матч, так как первая игра на своем стадионе – мероприятие волнующее.
не смогли свести игры даже к ничьей, при этом, никто не может «бросить камень в их огород».
для махачкалинцев. В Раменском венгерские футболисты смогли почти выполнить задачу максимум. Если бы матч завершился вничью – это бы стало для «Гонведа» победой. Но к счастью для «Анжи», минимальный перевес был достигнут.
задумался, так как оба турнира крайне интересны. Но вот в чем главное отличие Олимпийских игр от футбольных мировых форумов – «медальная гонка».
Unsurprisingly, the three relegated teams are expected to be among the front-runners in the race to earn promotion to the Premier League next season, but there are one or two sleeping giants ready to awake from their slumber and seal a return to the promised land.