Tuesday's Champions League qualifying predictions: Comfortable ties for Qarabag and Fener
- There are 11 Champions League second-round qualifiers scheduled for Tuesday
- Recommended bets:
- Qarabag to win to zero
- Fenerbahce to beat Lugano
- Sparta Prague to beat Shamrock Rovers 2-0
Lincoln Red Imps vs Qarabag (Tuesday, 5pm)
The stats
Gibraltan side Lincoln Red Imps edged out Maltese opponents Hamrun Spartans in the first qualifying round, advancing on penalties after it ended 1-1 on aggregate.
Qarabag are the Azerbaijan champions and made it all the way to the last 16 in last season's Europa League.
Prediction
This is a huge step up for Lincoln Red Imps as they take on a Qarabag side that is much more experienced in European competition and managed to reach the last 16 in the Europa League last term, only being edged out by eventual finalists Bayer Leverkusen 5-4 on aggregate.
The Azerbaijan champions should have far too much for the Gibraltan minnows and this should be a comfortable first-leg win for the away side.
Lugano vs Fenerbahce (Tuesday, 7.30pm)
The stats
Lugano finished second in the Swiss top flight last season.
Lugano were in the Europa League group stage in 2023-24, finishing bottom of a group containing Club Brugge, Bodo/Glimt and Besiktas.
Fenerbahce are the record 28-time Turkish champions and are managed by former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.
Fener were runners-up in the Turkish Super Lig last term and recently hammered Championship side Hull City 5-1 in a friendly.
Prediction
This could be another mismatch as Fenerbahce look to be a cut above Lugano and the Turkish side, managed by the wily Mourinho, are likely to dominate.
Mourinho's side have been impressive in pre-season, seeing off Strasbourg 4-0 and then Hull 5-1 in recent friendlies, so they should approach the first leg with plenty of confidence as the goals are flowing.
Shamrock Rovers vs Sparta Prague (Tuesday, 8pm)
The stats
Sparta Prague are the reigning Czech champions.
Sparta progressed to the last 16 in the Europa League last season.
Shamrock Rovers are the current Irish champions, winning their fourth consecutive title and 21st overall last year.
Rovers are down in fourth place in the League of Ireland this season, and qualified for the group stages of the 2022–23 Europa Conference League.
Prediction
Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers did well to get past Icelandic side Vikingur Rekjavik in the first qualifying round, winning 2-1 on aggregate, but they are likely to be found out against Czech giants Sparta.
An away win to zero looks likely but for better value a 2-0 correct score to the visitors is the selection. Sparta have scored exactly two goals in their last three matches — a 2-1 win in their league opener over Pardubice at the weekend and in friendly games before that against Salzburg and Brondby.
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