Conference League Quali, 2nd round, first leg, Thursday, 25.07.2024 at 21:00
Just in time for the start of the 2nd round of the Conference League qualifiers, I would recommend that you put my well-considered FK Sarajevo Spartak Trnava betting tip to the test.
Because in this Bosnian-Slovakian Eastern European clash, there is a good chance that we will see a low-scoring draw.
Furthermore, I rate the visitors as a tad stronger, even if the recent test match results have left a lot to be desired
Spartak Trnava will have a hard time topping their biggest personal success of recent years from the previous season: A repeat appearance in the Conference League group stage.
Incidentally, the Slovakians paved their way through the 2023/24 qualifying phase with victories over Latvian representatives Uada, Lech Poznan and SC Dnipro-1. In that respect, FK Sarajevo should therefore fit into the spectrum of clubs that the Eastern Europeans can beat.
In the first leg, however, I am a little more cautious in this respect when it comes to a corresponding FK Sarajevo Spartak Trnava betting tip – and not without reason!
Spartak have not won any of their last seven European Cup away games (3 draws, 4 defeats)
What also prevents me from using the Betano promo code on this game with an away win bet is the path that has led the Slovaks to the Asim Ferhatovic Hase stadium.
On the one hand, Spartak Trnava have a considerable lack of competitive experience, as they have not yet started the domestic league competition. On the other hand, the results of the last five test matches also leave a lot to be desired.
The test matches against Maribor (1:2), Bravo (1:3), Sparta Prague (0:3), Hartberg (1:1) and most recently Aston Villa (0:3), played in chronological order, do not suggest that the 2024/25 European Cup season will be as long as the previous one!
With a market value of around 10 million each, both clubs are lightweights in the international soccer business. However, Spartak Travna usually makes it, if not into the draw pots, then at least more often into the later qualifying rounds.
FK Sarajevo, on the other hand, have only just avoided falling at the first hurdle of Conference League qualification for the third time in a row.
Thanks to a successful penalty shoot-out against Aktobe, however, they were finally able to get past this miserable first round. However, the Bosnians are not characterized by consistency – least of all in their home stadium.
Watch out: FK Sarajevo have never won a UECL game in front of their own fans (1 draw, 2 defeats)
The fact that the sports betting providers have called out FK Sarajevo Spartak Trnava odds, according to which the home side has a slight advantage, makes a soccer bet a little more interesting for me again.
I wouldn’t have favoured the visitors, but their slight underdog role opens up various interesting scenarios for me.
First and foremost, the one that has prompted me to place a double chance X2 bet, as the odds of around 1.60 are very appealing
On the other hand, I think a 0:0 or 1:1 is most likely on Thursday, which the Slovaks could live with very well.
However, the pure draw odds of around 3.05 are not particularly high, which is why I would definitely select the additional conditions of under 2.5 goals in order to be able to take advantage of a combined odds of around 3.70.
Amazingly, this is not the first time the two clubs have met. In the qualifiers for the 2009/10 Europa League season, there were two results that sealed the Bosnians’ progression.
FK Sarajevo won the first leg 1-0 in their own stadium and prevented Spartak Trnava from overturning the deficit a week later as guests in Slovakia (1-1).
Incidentally, that can be seen as a good omen for the home side. After all, the 2009/10 European Cup season was by far the club’s most successful, as FK Sarajevo only finished in the play-off round and thus just before making it into the draw pots.
By the way: Spartak Trnava have visited Bosnia quite often in international qualifiers, but usually without success.
Their record from the four trips to Bosnia since 2009 has been thoroughly negative, with 2 draws and 2 defeats!
However, thanks to a stronger home performance, the Slovaks have managed to advance to the next round in three of these four qualifying phases.
My FK Sarajevo Spartak Trnava prediction for this match: First leg 1-1, second leg 1-0 for the Slovaks!
Conclusion: An exciting duel awaits between FK Sarajevo and Trnava next Thursday. Spartak, although without recent competitive experience, is rated by me as the slightly better team.
Nevertheless, the Bosnians are the favorites in the betting markets for this first leg. However, the “Divovi” have often disappointed internationally in the past, especially in home games.
My tip: Double chance X2