Champions League Tuesday predictions: Greek success can lead Euro treble
- There are four Champions League second-leg qualifiers on Tuesday
- Recommended bets
- Back Panathinaikos and Over 2.5 goals
- Back Olimpija Ljubljana to win
- Back Slovan Bratislava to win and Over 1.5 goals
Teams will know that progression this week will mean they are just one qualifying round away from making the Champions League group stages.
Panathinaikos vs Dnipro-1 (Tuesday, 6.30pm)
The stats
Panathinaikos are in a strong position to progress to the third qualifying round, taking a 3-1 away win into Tuesday’s home tie with Dnipro-1.
The Greek side go into the second leg unbeaten in their last eight competitive home games from last term, as they look to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Dnipro did reach the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League last season but, having finished second in the Ukrainian top flight last term, this looks a step too far.
Prediction
The hosts already have a two-goal aggregate advantage and with the second leg at home, are in pole position to reach the third qualifying round.
Only a last-minute goal for Dnipro last week gave them a glimmer of hope and Panathinaikos should be too strong on home soil.
Serbian midfielder Filip Duricic is a key figure for the Greek outfit, with the 31-year-old scoring the second goal in the first-leg win.
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Ludogorets (Tuesday, 7pm)
The stats
With last week’s first leg in Bulgaria finishing 1-1, this qualifying tie is on a knife edge and there could be a surprise in the offing.
Olimpija have never reached the Champions League group stages before, while Ludogorets have been there on three separate occasions and have more European experience.
But the Slovenian side look capable of progressing to round three, going into their home leg off the back of 5-0 league win on Saturday.
In fact, Olimpija have lost just one of their five competitive games this season, with three wins and one draw.
Prediction
Ludogorets’ progressed to this stage with a 4-2 aggregate over Ballkani, but it is worth noting that they lost the away leg in Kosovo 2-0.
With both teams having already started their league season, there is no excuse of being rusty and the home advantage could be key.
Olimpija were amongst the goals at the weekend and Saar Fadida is certainly one to watch, with the Israeli midfielder bagging a hat-trick in the win over Rogaska.
Slovan Bratislava vs Zrinjski (Tuesday, 7.30pm)
The stats
With a 1-0 win from the away leg, Slovan Bratislava are in a strong position to make it through to the third qualifying round.
You have to go back to the 2014-15 season for the last time the Slovakian champions reached that stage of qualifying.
Zrinjski needed penalties to beat Uratu of Armenia in the last round and that form suggests Slovan will have too much for them.
Prediction
As well as having a first-leg lead, the Slovakians recent defensive record makes impressive reading, with three clean sheets in a row in Champions League qualifying.
Another key factor in Slovan’s favour is that their domestic league has already started, whilst Zrinjski do not begin their league campaign until August 5.
