Champions League Quali, 1st round, second leg, Tuesday, 16.07.2024 at 16:30
Return match between Ballkani and Santa Coloma in the first round of Champions League qualifying. These are the most important international matches for Santa Coloma. The club became champions for the first time and can therefore make their first attempt to reach the top flight.
But after the bitter 2-1 defeat in the first leg, it will be difficult, especially as the reunion will take place in Kosovo. I expect a tough battle for a place in the second round. The first encounter was already on an equal footing, so I’m picking the goal of both teams at Betano! Here you can bet without a deposit with a 20 euro freebet!
Can they make it to the second qualifying round? The train has not yet left the station for Santa Coloma, but it would still take a small soccer miracle if I look at the odds in the top sports betting apps.
Ballkani go into their home game as the heavy favorites. Anyone betting on a home win will be offered just 1.30. A 4.70 awaits for a draw, which is also enough for the hosts to progress, and an 8.75 for an away win.
Andorra’s Unio Esportiva did not have a bad first leg, took an early lead and were able to shape the game for long stretches. The team, which was founded in 1995, also has some good players in its squad.
In terms of squad value alone, Santa Coloma is even on a par with the attacking powerhouse from Kosovo. The 3.35 for the “Double chance X2” with a similar number of goals in the first leg and roughly the same amount of possession sounds tempting
In any case, there is nothing really lucrative in the lower odds range for this match to make a bet with a higher stake worthwhile. At this early stage of the season, it is also difficult to say anything about the teams’ form.
The goal for both teams at 2.10 at Betano is the hot candidate for me. The visitors will have to act to make up the deficit and the hosts’ goal is a pretty clear-cut one for me anyway
The first leg of the first qualifying round for the Champions League was the first ever competitive match for both teams. Stability in particular often suffers when the rhythm of the game is not yet there.
It is comparable to the first round matches in the DFB Cup when one or other Bundesliga team stumbles.
Coloma is likely to field the bold 4-3-3 variant again in the second clash. True to the motto “Now more than ever”. After all, the aim is to make up the 1:2 deficit at least until possible extra time. The fact that Ballkani is also fielding a 4-3-3 variant speaks in favor of goals.
Sunmaker offers 1.70 for over 2.5 goals in the over-goals market, and 2.70 if the over-3.5 mark is targeted
In the 2:1 first leg, Lindon Emerllahu equalized from the spot just before the break. Youseff El Ghazoui initially put the underdogs from Andorra ahead. In the 90th minute, winger Bernard Karrica put the hosts ahead.
Card betting is unfortunately not possible with betting providers licensed in Germany, but would not be a bad option for this match either. Three yellow cards were handed out for unsportsmanlike conduct alone.
A heated affair in an important match for both teams. Even if the road is long, the dream of reaching the Champions League group stage is still alive. In addition, the chances of at least slipping into the Europa or Conference League are better in the event of a later elimination
Ballkani and Santa Coloma met for the first time in the first leg. UE won the Andorran top flight title last year with a three-point lead over Inter. As is so often the case, the soccer rule “the best offense wins games, the best defense wins titles” also applied here.
The first two runners-up scored more reliably, but Coloma had the strongest defense with twelve goals conceded, an average of 0.44.
And Ballkani was only able to equalize from the penalty spot against the team that only conceded one defeat last season
No positive memories have been created on the international stage so far. Santa Coloma have failed to reach the first qualifying round of the Europa League seven times and failed to reach the second round of the Conference League qualifiers in 2022/2023.
One consolation: the loser still gets to play in the Conference League qualifiers.
Ballkani, on the other hand, have made it through to the group stage of Europe’s third-highest international competition for the last two seasons. Both times, they finished in last place with just four points.
With the best offense and defense, Ballkani became champions of Kosovo for the third time in a row. However, both against Coloma and in the two friendly matches in June, the team failed to keep a clean sheet
Conclusion: Ballkani have played three games so far in the new season, conceding five goals. Although the first two games were test matches, they were not unimportant preparation for the first round of the Champions League qualifiers.
Santa Comola took an early lead in the first leg and kept KF in a close fight until the end. The team may have less experience and success, a little less offensive power, but a stable defense that was only cracked from the penalty spot.
I assume that the visitors will once again throw everything into their 4-3-3, but will not be able to do so without conceding a goal themselves.
My tip: Both teams will score
