- HJK Helsinki to win to nil
- FCSB to win to nil
- TNS win
- Vikingur Reykjavik v Shamrock Rovers - BTTS
It has barely been six weeks since the end of the 2023/24 Champions League but Europe’s biggest club competition gets under way once again on Tuesday night with the first round of qualifying.
There are six matches on Tuesday as teams such as The New Saints, Shamrock Rovers and Steaua Bucherest (FCSB) are in action.
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Champions League Acca
Virtus v FCSB
FCSB to win to nil
It is a big ask for San Marino club Virtus, having won their local league for the first time in their history last year. They have never before entered the Champions League at any stage and there has only ever been one win for a San Marino team, when SP Tre Penne beat Shriak of Armenia in the first leg of a 2013/14 qualifier, before losing on aggregate.
In truth, it should be a comfortable night for FCSB - formerly known as Steaua Bucharest - after they were crowned Romania champions for the 27th time. They have pedigree in the Champions League having won it in 1986, so a long time ago, and they would expect to go deep into qualifying, having last made it to the group stages in 2013/14.
TNS v FK Decic Tuzi
TNS win
It was a stunning campaign last season for The New Saints, finishing with a stunning 92 points from a possible 96 in the Cymru Premier to lift their third successive league title. They have never made it beyond the first round of qualifying however and are without a win in seven matches in the Champions League.
They may have met their match however, with Montenegro side Decic also without pedigree at this level. They also won their national title, albeit with a slightly less impressive record, and though they should prove hard to beat and will fancy their chances against TNS, I think the home side will have enough to get the win.
FK Panevezys v HJK Helsinki
HJK to win to nil
This game could be something of a mismatch, considering HJK are riding high in the bid to defend their fifth successive league title. Panevezys on the other hand, having won their maiden title, are struggling massively and are facing relegation having picked up 21 points from 21 games so far.
Both sides are match-ready considering they are in the middle of league campaigns, but with HJK progressing beyond this stage in the last three seasons the odds are heavily stacked in their favour and I think they should come through this game with relative ease.
Vikingur Reykjavik v Shamrock Rovers
Both Teams to Score
Another game with both sides in the middle of their seasons, this game is a bit harder to call with both of them going into the game in decent form, though it is the hosts who undoubtedly will have the upper hand on the day.
Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s side had a brilliant campaign last year to secure European football and have started strongly once again with just one defeat so far this season. Shamrock Rovers, while not doing terribly, find themselves fourth but they do have some recent European pedigree having played in the Europa Conference League in 2022/23.
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