Before we enter the regular domestic season, there’s the small matter of Champions League and Europa League qualification. Over the course of the next two weeks, the group stages of Europe’s top two club competitions will be decided.
The likes of Scottish giants Celtic, Holland’s Ajax, West Ham United and Ligue 1 outfit Monaco – amongst numerous other big clubs – are all in action as they bid to secure their respective passages through to the group stage.
We’re going to focus on four of next week’s tastiest looking fixtures from both tournaments. Ukrainian Premier League runners-up Shakhtar Donetsk welcome Swiss club Young Boys, Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops, who avoided a shock exit at the hands of minnows Lincoln Red Imps after turning around a first leg deficit last week, make the trip to Kazakstan to take on Astana, Fenerbahce meet Monaco, and Slaven Bilic’s Hammers travel to Slovenia to face the little-known Domzale.
Even though the big-hitters have already qualified for their respective tournaments proper, there are still plenty of clubs facing crucial qualifying fixtures in the upcoming weeks. Which teams can steal a march on their rivals in the first legs next week and put one foot in the next phase?
Tuesday 26th July 2016
Shakhtar Donetsk v Young Boys (19:00) – Shakhtar Donetsk to win 2-0 (5/1 with Totesport)
We kick things off with Tuesday’s Champions League qualification third round fixture between Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk and Swiss Super League outfit Young Boys at the Arena Lviv. Despite being the strong favourites, Shakhtar still need to be very wary of the side who gave Tottenham Hotspur a scare a few years back. Adi Hutter’s men are very strong in their domestic league, finishing runners-up in Switzerland to the experienced Basel over the last couple of seasons.
Nevertheless, at 4/9 (Sky Bet) for the win, Donetsk are certainly the fancied team with the bookies in this one. The 2009 UEFA Cup winners have a decent recent record in Europe, reaching the Europa League semi-final last season. There’s not an awful lot of value backing the home side just to win in this one, so we’re picking out Shakhtar to triumph by a 2-0 scoreline, which is priced at 5/1 with Totesport. They are solid at the back and much better at home than away, so have what it takes to keep a clean sheet and also the motivation to press for more than just one goal.
Wednesday 27th July 2016
Astana v Celtic (15:00) – Celtic to win (11/8 with Sky Bet)
Next up is Celtic’s trip to Kazakhstan to face the current Kazakhstan Premier League holders Astana. Rodgers’ men suffered one of the worst results in their proud history when they fell to a 1-0 defeat to part-timers Lincoln Red Imps in the previous round. However, a 3-0 second leg win at Celtic Park was enough to spare some of the embarrassment.
On Wednesday, they come up against Stanimir Stoilov’s Astana. The two-time Kazakhstan champions reached the group stage of last year’s Champions League, finishing fourth behind Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Galatasaray, drawing four of their six matches. Despite the Blue and Yellow’s recent rise into Europe’s elite competition, the Bhoys are the favourites and should have what it takes to bring home a first leg advantage. Sky Bet are offering the best price with odds of 11/8 for an away win, and we think that’s a price too good to turn down.
Wednesday 27th July 2016
Fenerbahce v Monaco (19:30) – Draw (21/10 with Betfred)
Another standout Champions League qualification tie is Wednesday’s intriguing looking clash between Fenerbahce and Monaco at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. These two are no strangers to Champions League football, and it will be a real carrot for the team who knocks out the other in this one. The Turkish outfit have not reached the Champions League group stage since the 2008/09 season, whilst Monaco made it to the quarter-finals in 2015, seeing off Arsenal in the last 16.
This match has all the makings of being a cracking tie in Turkey. Being at home, Fenerbahce are the favourites to get the win in midweek – however, Monaco are the fancied team to progress overall.
The standout bet in this one is the draw (21/10 at Betfred). Leonardo Jardim would no doubt take the draw right now if offered. Meanwhile, the home side will certainly be going all out for the win, which should make for a fascinating contest in Istanbul.
Thursday 28th July 2016
Domzale v West Ham United (19:45) – West Ham United to win -1 (20/19 with Coral)
Lastly, we turn our focus to the Europa League, where Slaven Bilic’s West Ham take on Slovenian PrvaLiga side Domzale. In truth, not many people would have even heard of Domzale, a small town that has a population just shy of 13,000. After dropping out of this stage of the competition last season, the Hammers will be cautious but expectant in Slovenia. The east Londoners may be ready to open up their brand new 60,000 Olympic Stadium soon, but they will be playing in front of under 3,000 people in Domzale on Thursday.
After an excellent Premier League campaign last year, coupled with their venture into the new stadium, West Ham will be looking to reach the Europa League group stages this season. Now Bilic has had a year to settle into life back in east London, the Hammers seem much more suited to have a real go in Europe this time around. To be perfectly honest, West Ham should not have too many problems progressing to the play-off round. We’re predicting the Premier League club to see off Domazale by a decent margin on Thursday. We like the look of the Londoners to win -1 in Slovenia, which is priced at good value odds of 20/19 with Coral.