While many teams across Europe have long confirmed their status in the Champions League or Europa League, there are those still needing to qualify via the play-offs. One of the most highly anticipated play-offs clashes is between Hoffenheim and Liverpool. The German outfit have never qualified for the Champions League before so the approaching two-legged tie is of huge significance. There is also a massive game awaiting Nice who take on Napoli. The coastal French side haven’t participated in Europe’s elite competition since the 1959-1960 season.
In 2015, FC Astana became the first team from Kazakhstan to reach the Champions League group stages and they’ll be looking to do the same again this year. They have been given a very tricky tie against a Celtic side who are brimming with confidence under Brendan Rodgers. Moving on to the Europe League and we will see how Everton fair against Hajduk Split on Thursday evening. The Croatians have been knocked out in the play-off round three years running so recent history is not on their side.
Tuesday 15th August 2017
Hoffenheim v Liverpool (19:45) – Draw (5/2 with Sky Bet)
Hoffenheim performed above expectation in last year’s Bundesliga, collecting 62 points to secure a fourth place finish. Much of the credit has been directed towards 30-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann who has been part of the coaching staff at Hoffenheim since 2010. For him and many of his players, a game of this importance is not something they have experienced before but expect them to keep their feet firmly on the ground. The south-west German team should also have confidence during the first-leg at least as they’ve not lost a competitive game at home since the final game of the 15/16 Bundesliga season.
With this looking like a difficult game for Liverpool, what can Jurgen Klopp’s side muster up in response? The good news for them is that they tend to raise their game against the bigger sides and Hoffenheim are certainly no pushovers. Having opposition that will come out and attack will give the Reds room to counter and this is something they can do so to devastating effect. Added to this is Klopp’s experience of German football and prior knowledge of some of the Hoffenheim’s squad. It is a game which looks too close to call so a draw is the most sensible bet in what should be a very tactical bout.
Wednesday 16th August 2017
Napoli v Nice (19:45) – Both teams to score (evens with Bet365)
While the Italian side are rightly the favourites to take a victory into the second leg, they are only priced 1/3 to do so which seems to undervalue the ability of Nice. A better looking bet is both teams to score which is trading as high as evens with Bet365. Napoli scored goals for last season, doing so 94 times in Serie A, the highest in the league. Their frighteningly good front trio of Callejon, Mertens and Insigne are a constant threat and they have strong options to bring off the bench too. Scoring is something they have done in every game in 2017 bar one exception so goals looks almost certain for them here.
Nice didn’t reach the dizzying scoring heights of Monaco in Ligue 1 last season but their total of 63 goals is a very credible total. A revived Mario Balotelli chipped in with his fair share and the former Inter and AC Milan man will be no stranger to facing Napoli. The recent addition of Wesley Sneijder from Galatasaray will only add to their attacking prowess too. With two away goals scored against a strong Ajax side to reach this round, there’s enough indication that Nice can fire past Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.
Celtic v FC Astana (19:45) – Under 2.5 goals (5/6 with BetVictor)
We’ve too often seen Celtic brush past Scottish opponents with ease since Brendan Rodgers’ appointment in May of last year. A challenge of FC Astana poses a rather more significant threat however and the Edinburgh based side will need to work hard if they are to progress. Rodgers’ rather young squad packs a lot of quality and they were largely in control against Rosenborg in the previous qualification round despite the scoreline being close. It was a tight match though and with so much resting on this game, we could be in for a similar story here.
FC Astana went for a far more gung-ho approach to begin their third round qualification tie against Legia Warsaw. A very end to end game finished 3-1 to the side from Kazakhstan although they could have easily scored many more. On the return trip in Poland, they showed great discipline combined with some time wasting tactics to maintain their aggregate lead. Stanimir Stoilov will likely be happy to play conservatively on the away leg again and hope to get the necessary goals in front of the home crowd. A stubborn Astana side will be hard to break down and should lead to few goals at Celtic Park.
Thursday 17th August 2017
Everton v Hajduk Split (20:05) – Everton to win to nil (17/20 with BetVictor)
Everton didn’t see off Slovenian side Ruzeomberok with as much ease as they would have liked and the Toffees faithful may be in for another nervy two-legged affair here. As against the Slovenians, Everton boast the stronger side on paper and Ronald Koeman will increasingly have a better idea of who is strongest eleven is. Things may take a while to properly click in attack but at the back, Koeman’s side should have few concerns. The Dutchman will know how disastrous an away goal would be and he’ll be making sure his side restricts chances to the Croatians above all else.
It is unlikely Hajduk Split would look to commit too many forward either. Joan Carrillo’s side will know they are the underdogs here and they will understand that if they game becomes stretched, they will most likely be the ones punished. Having lost their play-off away leg three seasons running, it’s hard to see them coming to Merseyside and putting an end to this run. The third best team in Croatia last year won’t be brushed aside by a Toffees side still finding their feet but a narrow home win looks the most likely result.