Champions League: No humiliation for Zeljeznicar

Michael Lintorn
24 July 2012

Zeljeznicar's European home games are usually low-scoring

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There are some ambitious selections in our latest Champions League treble, but will they prove too brave?

"Eleven of Zeljeznicar's last 14 European home games featured two goals or fewer."

Back under 2.5 goals in Zeljeznicar v NK Maribor @ 2.01/1

Back under 2.5 goals in Sheriff Tiraspol v FC Ulisses @ 2.3811/8 (18:00)
Despite hailing from Moldova and Armenia, two nations whose teams - without being rude - you would expect to be found wanting fairly frequently in European competition, both of these clubs have a tendency to produce under 2.5 goals on such occasions. A massive 13 of Sheriff Tiraspol's last 14 continental clashes in front of their fans have delivered such an outcome and the same is true of four of their visitors' five prior European matches. The first leg provided only one goal so 2.3811/8 seems a huge price for a repeat.

Back under 2.5 goals in Zeljeznicar v NK Maribor @ 2.01/1 (20:00)
Bosnian side Zeljeznicar have participated in the Champions League or Europa League preliminaries nine times and only qualified once, that dismal success rate unlikely to improve this year after a 4-1 first-leg defeat in Slovenia. The beating inflicted wasn't as brutal as it might sound though, as they led at the break and gloss was applied to the score through a penalty and injury-time strike. Eleven of their last 14 European home games featured two goals or fewer, and in several of those they lost the away fixture heavily.

Back HJK Helsinki to win away to KR Reykjavik @ 2.111/10 (20:15)
This column's default stance is to distrust teams who have already done enough in the first leg to effectively guarantee progress, however these odds are large enough to warrant an exception. HJK won the initial tie in the Finnish capital 7-0, and while that lessens the incentive to fight desperately for victory tonight in Iceland, there is just as scant reason for the hosts to waste energy chasing a lost cause. KR are winless in three in all competitions and have lost their last four European encounters by an aggregate score of 1-15.

Odds of 8.9 are offered on the above treble using the Betfair Coupon, presenting the opportunity to turn £5 into £39