Champions League Wednesday predictions: Molde comeback headlines Euro treble

Aaron Rogan
Spotlight
Erling Moe's Molde were surprisingly beaten last week but can make amends on Wednesday
Erling Moe's Molde were surprisingly beaten last week but can make amends on Wednesday

- There are eight Champions League second-leg qualifiers on Wednesday 
- Recommended bets: 
- Over 2.5 Molde goals 
- Both teams to score in Genk vs Servette 
- Both teams to score in Galatasaray vs Zalgiris

Wednesday sees 16 sides battling to stay in the Champions League as they fight for a spot in the third qualifying round. 

Molde vs HJK (Wednesday, 6pm)

The stats

Molde trail 1-0 from their first leg clash with HJK, but the hosts are on an eight-game winning streak at home ahead of Wednesday’s return clash. 

The visitors squeezed by Northern Irish outfit Larne in the last round but they conceded twice in their away leg, while they were thumped at this stage of the Champions League last term, losing 5-0 to Viktoria Plzen.

Molde come into the game having hit at least three goals in each of their last three home games. 

If they can carry that record into this clash, they should progress into the next round. 

Prediction

HJK are in good shape domestically but they should fall short against a Molde side who have a great record at their own ground. 

Molde have hit 13 goals across their last four home games in all competitions and, with a deficit to overhaul, they are expected to start this clash on the front foot. 

Expect them to hit at least another three goals to send HJK out of this season’s Champions League. 

Genk vs Servette (Wednesday, 6pm)

https://www.livescorebet.com/uk/sports/football/champions-league-qualifying/genk-vs-servette-geneve/SBTE_29155824?marketGroupId=32

The stats

Genk conceded late in their visit to Switzerland last week and had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Servette. 

The Belgian side were much more in control of their opening league game of the campaign, claiming a 4-0 win over RWD Molenbeek at the weekend.

Servette head to Belgium as outsiders but the visitors have looked good going forward in the early stages of this campaign. 

They have scored six goals across their first three matches, although they have also conceded in each of those.

Prediction

Genk had real issues with their defence at the tail end of last season, conceding in each of their final six home league games. 

They have not done a lot to improve that heading into this campaign, so they could be exposed in the Champions League.

Far tougher tests than Servette await the hosts in the qualifiers but with the visitors scoring in each of their games this term, they are good value to get a goal in this second leg. 

We should see another open game given that the visitors have seen 10 goals scored across their first three games of the season.

Galatasaray vs Zalgiris (Wednesday, 7.:30pm)

The stats

Okan Buruk's Galatasaray should make home advantage count but Zalgiris can trouble their defence
Okan Buruk's Galatasaray should make home advantage count but Zalgiris can trouble their defence

Galatasary conceded late on in Lithuania last week to return with a 2-2 draw from their first clash with Zalgiris. 

However, the Turkish side are expected to secure a comfortable win in the second leg.

Zalgiris were beaten 2-1 at home in their domestic league at the weekend, continuing what has been a high-scoring start to the campaign.

The visitors made it through the first round of Champions League qualifying with a 2-1 away win at Struga, so more goals are expected on Wednesday. 

Prediction

Galatasaray should run out comfortable winners in this clash, but they may struggle to keep the visitors quiet based on their struggles from the first leg. 

While the Turkish giants are the favourites, they are facing a side who are in the middle of their domestic campaign. 

Galatasaray played their first game of the season in last week’s first leg and with 10 days between this clash and their first Super Lig game of the season, they could be a little rusty in defence. 

Tags

MoldeHJKGenkServetteGalatasarayZalgiris VilniusChampions League