Champions League qualifying tips: three strong selections for this week's European fixtures

The Champions League is one step closer to reality, with 15 teams having progressed through the first qualifying round, hoping for a chance to reach the lucrative group stage. 

More recognisable names have entered the competition at this point, including Dinamo Zagreb, FC Zurich and Malmo, while there is a mouth-watering encounter in the League Path, with Dynamo Kyiv tackling Fenerbahce in a first-leg tie that will take place in Austria. With the level of competition stepping up a notch, which are the teams to watch?

Ludogorets Razgrad vs Shamrock Rovers

Tuesday July 19, 6:45pm 

Irish side Shamrock Rovers have been given a tough trip to Bulgaria as they attempt to reach the third round of qualifying for the Champions League. If they were to do that, it would be the first time they have won successive ties in the competition dating back to the days it was known as the European Cup. 

Ludogorets, meanwhile, reached the playoff stage last season and were especially strong at home, where they won three of their four matches.

Look for them to take this game, too. While their odds of 1.41 look slim, backing against both teams to score at 1.64 offers better value. Shamrock have found scoring goals hard to come by lately: they have struck only four times in their last four League of Ireland games and were held 0-0 by Maltese side Hibernians away from home last week. 

Recommended bet: BTTS? No @ 1.64 

The Champions League first qualifying round saw 15 teams progress to the second round, where more established sides have now joined the competition to reach the group stage

Dinamo Zagreb vs FK Shkupi

Tuesday July 19, 8pm 

It would be a quite simply enormous shock if Shkupi were to take anything away from Zagreb on Tuesday. The Macedonian side were defeated 2-0 away to Gibraltar side Lincoln Red Imps last week but limped through courtesy of a 3-0 home win, and they are making a major step up in class here. 

Zagreb, after all, have lost only four of their last 31 European home matches. Those defeats came, in reverse chronological order, to West Ham, Villarreal, Manchester City and Young Boys (back in 2018). Indeed, the last time they lost a Champions League tie at this stage was in 1997 – when Premier League clubs were still being made to qualify. 

Backing Zagreb with a 1.5 handicap makes a lot of sense. They should win with some to spare, but haven’t won a European home match by more than two goals since beating Atalanta 4-0 in the 2019 group stages.

Recommended bet: Dinamo Zagreb -1.5 @ 1.42 

Maccabi Haifa vs Olympiacos

Wednesday July 20, 6pm 

Maccabi Haifa will hope to lean on their strong home record in European competitions to allow them to qualify in the Champions League. They have lost only once at home in Europe in their last 12 matches, which was against Union Berlin in the Conference League last season. Meanwhile, they drew 0-0 with eventual finalists Feyenoord. 

Olympiacos, meanwhile, are not a side that typically travels well in Europe. They only won two of their seven away trips last season, albeit one arrived at this stage of this very competition against Neftci Baku.

Meanwhile, they have lost both their knockout ties against Israeli opponents, the latest of which was Hapoel Be’er Sheva in 2016. Look for the hosts to avoid defeat in this one. 

Recommended bet: Maccabi Haifa or draw @ 1.53

Recommended bets

Ludogorets/Shamrock BTTS? No @ 1.64

Dinamo Zagreb -1.5 @ 1.42

Maccabi Haifa or draw @ 1.53