Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Champions League fixtures, including FCSB vs. Virtus.
Boasting a slender advantage from the first leg of their Champions League first-round qualifying battle, KF Ballkani endeavour to complete the job against UE Santa Coloma on Tuesday evening.
The Kosovar top-flight champions left it late to secure a 2-1 success in their opening battle last week and will be rewarded with a second-round battle with Midtjylland should they maintain or add to their advantage.
We say: KF Ballkani 1-0 UE Santa Coloma (Ballkani win 3-1 on aggregate)
Santa Coloma have proven sturdy in the defensive third over the past seven months, albeit not to the level of finally picking up their first positive result in European football last Tuesday, where Ballkini’s greater attacking prowess finally came to the fore.
While the Gabriels will not have the luxury of playing at their regular home, they should not be in any danger of losing their aggregate advantage and can strike once to settle any nerves before celebrating their progression to round two.
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FC Pyunik and Dinamo Minsk will resume their battle in the first qualifying round of the 2024-25 Champions League when they meet for the second leg at Republican Stadium on Tuesday.
The tie still hangs in the balance after these sides played out a goalless first leg and the winner of this match will move on to face either Ludogorets or Dinamo Batumi in the next round.
We say: FC Pyunik 1-0 Dinamo Minsk
Having maintained a clean sheet last week, Pyunik have put themselves in a strong position heading into the home leg. We are expecting the hosts to play on the front foot much more than we saw last week and fancy that they could edge the result.
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Hamrun Spartans will be bidding to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they take Lincoln Red Imps in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round contest on Tuesday night.
The hosts will enter the clash with a narrow advantage, with Ethan Britto netting the only goal of the match when the two teams locked horns in Malta last week.
We say: Lincoln Red Imps 1-1 Hamrun Spartans (Lincoln Red Imps win 2-1 on aggregate)
It is a big ask for Hamrun Spartans to turn this tie around, and we have to side with Lincoln Red Imps here. It would not be a surprise to see the visitors score, but the home side should have enough to navigate their way into the next stage, as any draw is also good enough for them to progress.
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HJK Helsinki have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round fixture with Panevezys following a difficult first leg in Lithuania last week.
Panevezys were 3-0 winners in the reverse contest between the two sides, and the visitors will be aiming to create history by reaching the second qualifying round of this competition for the first time.
We say: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Panevezys (Panevezys win 4-2 on aggregate)
HJK will fancy their chances of winning on Tuesday, but it is very difficult to imagine them having enough to overturn the three-goal first-leg defeat. As a result, we are backing HJK to triumph, but Panevezys should head into the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
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Celje and Flora will meet in the second leg of their Champions League first-round qualifying tie on Tuesday with the hosts holding a massive advantage.
Grofje smashed in five goals at the Lillekula Stadium last week and are 90 minutes away from meeting either Slovan Bratislava or FC Struga in round two of qualifying.
We say: Celje 3-0 Flora
Based on the first leg of this tie, it seems highly unlikely that we are going to see a comeback from Flora here, and considering they are the away side, this scoreline could turn ugly fast.
While Damir Krznar may see this as a good opportunity to give some of his fringe players some playing time, we still expect the hosts to secure a comfortable victory.
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With one foot firmly in the next round, FCSB will look to see off Virtus in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie at the National Arean on Tuesday.
FCSB have a commanding six-goal lead after winning the first leg 7-1 in San Marino and are clear favourites to qualify for round two, where they will face Maccabi Tel Aviv.
We say: FCSB 4-0 Virtus
FCSB were dominant in the first leg and it is difficult to make a case for it going any differently this week. Short and sweet, we expect the hosts to secure another commanding victory in this one.
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In the second leg of the first Champions League qualifying round, Decic Tuzi are set to host The New Saints at Stadion Tuzi, and will have to overcome a 3-0 first-leg deficit on Tuesday.
The home side finished first with 70 points in the Montenegrin top flight, while the visitors won the Welsh Premier League with 92 points.
We say: Decic 1-3 The New Saints
Although Decic performed impressively over the course of last season, it is difficult to see how they can overcome the 3-0 deficit.
Additionally, coming off the back of a rampant campaign last term, The New Saints should be strong favourites heading into Tuesday’s clash.
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![Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley on October 27, 2022 [Imago]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/stephen-bradley.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley on October 27, 2022 [Imago]")
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After a goalless first leg in Iceland last week, Shamrock Rovers and Vikingur Reykjavik will conclude their Champions League first qualifying round battle at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday.
A steadfast defensive display saw Rovers come away from Reykjavik with a clean sheet, and they will now fancy their chances of advancing to a meeting with Sparta Prague in round two.
We say: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Vikingur Reykjavik
While forced to defend for the majority of the 90 last week, Rovers carved out the best chances in the match and should probably have been a goal up had they finished their clear chance late on.
Nevertheless, back on their home patch, the Hoops are likely to play more attacking football this week, and we feel they will manage to find the target while shutting the opponents out at the other end.
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