CSKA Moscova - Sporting Lisabona

Sporting is missing left back Jefferson while top player William Carvalho is a long time absentee. 

Sporting is a meaningless team when it comes to european competitions. The situation could be diferent this year as Jorge Jesus is supposed to give them a boost. However Jorge Jesus has a very turbulent record in Champions League. He is known for messing things up, big time.

The portuguese press says that Aquilani might start, changing the system to 4-3-2-1 with the triangle in the midfield inverted. So, this might be "deja vu" all over the place.

The portuguese press also worte a lot about the brothers Berezutski and Ignashevich saying the played in Lisbon in the Europa League final 10 years ago when they beat Sporting. They say they are slow and old...Slutski highlighted that situation saying it is true...and that's why he has been rotating their centre backs.

It can also be wisdom...inviting Sporting to open their play.

I think the game will be interesting. Both teams are similar in quality. Home factor and experience should prevail. 

CSKA -0.25 1.90.

Considering the first leg result and from what I saw, I believe that despite the not so high odds there is still some value in a bet for "BTS". 

In my opinion CSKA will easily score here and this automatically means that Sporting must score as well, if they want to keep their hopes for a group stage entry. Both teams have better attackers than defenders (in my opinion) and I recommend "BTS" as a bet for the game.

Bet: Both teams to score - Yes. 

Odds: 1.67 @ bet365

Stake: (8/10)

APOEL - FC Astana

After watching both Astana and APOEL, I have no doubt that APOEL is the better team. Their performances have been below par and not sure is it because all the the new players or the manager but I have been waiting for them to click. They finally did on Saturday after they beat Ermis 1-5 in the league. 

Ok, Ermis was not ready for this match as they have signed 23 new players this season including 6 during last week but psychologically a team that should score goals is not scoring and then does 5 times in a match usually opens the flood gates. Especially for Stilic and Luis Leal it was a big thing.

On paper, APOEL has a much stronger team than last season with maybe the left back position being the exception. It takes time to gel with a new manager and players and they will get better after each match. In these matches European experience goes a long way and APOEL has that. Also its Astana now who has to make the long trip to Cyprus. I also feel that the motivation is on APOEL´s side. They really want to make it back to Champions League group stages. I am not saying Astana does not but they are already in the Europa League group stages guaranteed so they have already reached their goal. Getting to CL is just extra.

I am convinced that they can beat Astana by at least 2 goals and go through. I would be even more convinced if Vander would be available and he still might but it is a race against time that one. Makrides was able to train with the team so he should be fit for this match.

APOEL will try for the 4th time in their history to be in the Champions League group stage while for Astana it will be the 1st.

The first game in Kazakhstan can be divided in several parts. The first 20 minutes were all Astana. APOEL entered the field with a pathetic approach and Astana took an early lead. Of course, 1 minute before Astana scored, APOEL had a penalty not given.

After 20 minutes and until the end of first half, Astana gave space to APOEL but the wrong decisions of coach Pacienza at the starting lineup didn't help APOEL to become dangerous.

At the second half, until 65-70 APOEL was all over Astana but they weren't really dangerous except 1-2 cases. The injury of Efrem balanced the game and at the last 20 minutes Astana was really dangerous on counter attacks and could at least scored another one.

The first game gave me the impression that APOEL is a bit better team than Astana. They have better individuals but they are not 100 "team" yet. Astana has some excellent individuals but most importantly they all defend and attack like a team, so this balances every disadvantage they have.

As guys already mentioned, APOEL had a good win against Ermis on Saturday which will help some players self-confidence like Leal and Stilic.

The coach of Astana is a good tactician and knows how to treat this game, so tactically coach Pacienza needs finally to be tactically perfect if APOEL wants to enter the group stage.

I rate the odds for HW around 1.90 fair so it is a no bet for me. Also, i am a bit pessimist regarding APOEL's chances to keep a clean sheet. They conceded at least 1 goal at 5/7 of their official games. Astana has good players upfront especially Foxy, Dzhoichiev and striker Kabananga who looked dangerous in the 20 minutes he played. So bettingwise, i could recommend G/G.

Personally, i will be romantic and bet on 3-1 correct score. APOEL managed their two first qualifications in Champions League with this score after having lost the first leg 1-0 (against FC Copenhagen and Wisla Krakow).

Partizan Belgrad - Bate Borisov

Partizan had two great chances in first leg. Both missed from A. Zivkovic. Bate scored from one real chance. 

Partizan played well in first half. Bate dominated the game in second half imo. It was important factor red card for Jeftovic at the end of first half. 

Partizan rested some of their best players. A. Zivkovic, D. Brasanac, V. Bozinov, Oumaru, Vulicevic against Borac Cacak for the weekend . Fabricio played only first half. 

 I dont have info about Bate's game for the weekend, only that they demolish Neman and rested seven players. 

I am expecting home win and goals here. Partizan will attack, and if they score early, we can see open game. Bate can score for sure in Belgrade. Stadium is sold out. About 30000 fans are expected. 

  Partizan win 2.10 @Bet365 5/10 Over 2,5 2.51@ Pinnacle 3/10

Preliminariile cupelor europene pentru casele de pariuri

Gata s-a incheiat si prima mansa din turul 2 al preliminariilor Champions League si Europa League. Aducatoare de bani in visteria caselor de pariuri! 

Chiar asa, Ludogoretul lui Moti, care se batea cu Liverpool a pierdut acasa cu campioana Moldovei, cvasi-necunoscutii de la Milasmi Orhei. Pana si Dinamo Zagreb a dezamagit, doar egal, tot acasa, cu luxemburghezii de la Fola Esch. Oricum cred ca "2" solist in partidele retur se prevede clar. Cam cum a fost cu FC Botosani in primul tur. Tare mi-e frica sa nu fie "2" solist acum si in partida de la Botosani, cu Legia Varsovia.

Semi dezamagiri, dar au tinut pariul de "1" solist au fost si Partizan Belgrad, cu Dila Gori, ai Bate Borisov, cu Dundalk. Greu, dar nu imposibil "2" si in aceste partide retur.

In Europa League, placuta a fost victoria Astrei Giurgiu in Scotia, indiferent cat contesta golul Inverness. Solistii clari, conform site-urilor specializate au fost Rosenborg la Reykjavik si Kairat Almaty, acasa cu Alashkert FC. Ambele au obtinut victorii! Pentru pariorii cu experienta, FC Koebenhavn, Slovan Bratislava si Apollon Limassol si-au respectat blazonul si au obtinut victoriile scontate!

Surprind reprezentante din Bulgaria si Croatia, tari care isi fac griji, daca vor mai avea reprezentante in turul urmator. Din Bulgaria, pe langa surpriza Ludogoretului, Mlada Boleslav a fost invinsa acasa de Stroemsgodset, la fel si Beroe a fost invinsa acasa de Brondby! Pentru Croatia, Dinamo Zagreb tocmai v-am spus ce a facut, iar Hajduk Split a pierdut la Koper!

Daca la surprizele de mai sus adaugam si unele rezultate din turneul final CONCACAF, adica egalurile Mexicului cu Trinidad and Tobago (4-4) si Guatemala (0-0) si egalul USA, 0-0, cu Panama, a fost o vara grea pentru pariori. Nu vreau sa-mi aduc aminte de turneul final America Sud cu surprizele Brazilia, Columbia, Argentina,