2018/19 Champions League - Second Qualifying Round - Preview and Odds

Published on July 31st, 2018 - 8:15am EST
Written By: Ned Wilson


UEFA Champions League second qualifying rounds continue with three return matches scheduled for today. The winners will walk away with €480.000 in their purse, while the losers switch over to the UEFA Europa League to continue their international campaign.

Today's fixtures:

FC Hapoel Beer Sheva v. FC Dinamo Zagreb (1st leg result 0:5)

Dinamo Zagreb is already qualified for the third round having secured a comfortable win at home last week with the difference in quality being apparent in their 5:0 rout of the Israeli team. One should not expect the same today as Dinamo have announced that they are entering this match with somewhat changed squad from last week. However, the odds for Dinamo still remain attractively high for the encounter in which the winner is already decided.

Source: Bet365
Time Stamp: July 31st, 2018 7:00 am EST
Odds Subject to Change

Hapoel to win 23/20
Draw 12/5
Dinamo to win 9/4

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FC Sheriff Tiraspol v. FC Shkendija (1st leg result 0:1)

When the Moldovan club hosts their Albanian counterparts in the second leg of this Champions League second qualifying round all is to play for. FC Shkendija is coming with a slight lead from the first leg by a goal which came early in a first half of the match despite a number of chances on both sides throughout regulation time. The teams looked very evenly matched and that is why we remain a bit puzzled by huge odds given to Shkendija both to win and or draw this match, a result which would see them move on to the third round - their best result thus fur in this competition.


Source: Bet365
Time Stamp: July 31st, 2018 7:00 am EST
Odds Subject to Change

FC Sheriff to win 9/20
Draw 3/1
Shkendija to win 15/2

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FC Spartak Trnava v. FC Legia Warsaw (1st leg result 2:0)

In what is most likely the biggest match of the day the Czech and Polish representatives square off after an intriguing first tie, which FC Spartak won away 2:0 and gave themselves a opening for the next round. However that was a strange match with FC Legia having the possession and more chances, while FC Spartak converted theirs. More of the same is expected today, with FC Legia having no option but to open up and attack their opponent's goal, while much like last week the Czech side will await their opportunities from the counterstrikes and will be more than happy to focus on defending their goal. Bookies have thus given the role of the favorite to FC Legia, however with the very strong technical skills of the Spartak players, defeating them by more than two goals will not be an easy task.

Source: Bet365
Time Stamp: July 31st, 2018 7:00 am EST
Odds Subject to Change

FC Spartak to win 11/4
Draw 23/10
Shkendija to win 21/20