Champions League Tuesday predictions: Danes have class to freeze out Icelandic foe
- Tuesday's Champions League qualifying features seven first-leg ties
- Recommended bets:
- FC Copenhagen to beat Breidablik
- Molde win vs HJK Helsinki & over 1.5 goals
- Dnipro-1 vs Panathinaikos Draw
A number of established European powers enter the Champions League on Tuesday with tricky away legs to negotiate in the second-qualifying round.
FC Copenhagen, who drew with Manchester City in last season's group stage, head to Iceland to take on Breidablik, Galatasaray are in Lithuania to play Zalgiris and former finalists Panathinaikos play Dnipro-1 of Ukraine in neutral Slovakia.
Breidablik v FC Copenhagen (Tuesday, 8.15pm)
The stats
Breidablik have worked harder than anyone reaching the second qualifying round, beating Tre Penne and Buducnost Podgorica in one-off ties and then Irish champs Shamrock Rovers over two legs.
Now comes a real step up in class against back-to-back Danish champions FC Copenhagen, who kicked off their Superliga season at the weekend with a tidy 2-1 win at Lyngby.
Prediction
Jacob Neestrup's Copenhagen squad is packed with players boasting Champions League experience, many of whom will have played in last season's group-stage matches against eventual winners Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla.
And even though Copenhagen failed to register a single win they did manage to draw one of their two ties against each of their decorated group rivals and they should have too much for Breidablik this midweek.
HJK Helsinki v Molde (Tuesday, 5pm)
The stats
HJK Helsinki made hard work of seeing off Northern Ireland minnows Larne in the first qualifying round, scraping a barely-deserved 1-0 win at home and then needing an injury-time own goal to draw 2-2 in Belfast.
Given that the perennial Finnish champs are also off the pace in the Veikkausliiga, it is clear all is not well at the capital's premier club.
They have changed manager over recent weeks and looked short of firepower again at the weekend as they pipped Ilves 1-0.
Prediction
HJK will look to contain ace Norwegians Molde, but that could be harder than it sounds with Erling Moe's men heading east fresh from a 5-1 thumping of Sarpsborg and having found the net in 19 of their last 20 games.
Molde should win but get them at odds-against by backing an away win and over 1.5 match goals.
Dnipro-1 v Panathinaikos (Tuesday, 7pm)
The stats
Dnipro-1 and Panathinaikos make their seasonal bows in the Champions League with the Ukrainian side's 'home' leg taking place in Kosice, Slovakia.
Obviously, Oleksandr Kucher's men are used to lining up at neutral venues these days so do not necessarily factor that in as a massive negative.
Indeed, half of their side are current Ukraine internationals, including last season's Premier League top scorer Artem Dovbyk, so there is quality within their ranks.
Prediction
Panathinaikos return to the Champions League after an eight-year absence and they do not exactly inspire confidence.
Yes, they finished second behind Olympiakos in the Greek Super League last season but they were not exactly easy on the eye, scoring either one or nil in eight of their last 13 matches.
In their last two pre-season friendlies they drew 1-1 with Hapoel Beer Sheva and lost 1-0 against Rayo Vallecano.
Dnipro are nothing if not competitive and this contest looks tight enough to merit an interest in the draw.
