RFS vs. HJK Helsinki (Tuesday, 4.30pm)
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HJK Helsinki will be aiming to book their spot in the second qualifying round of the Champions League when they travel to Rigas Futbola Skola for the second leg of their contest on Tuesday night.
The visitors are in a strong position to reach the next stage of the competition due to a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their clash last week, with Manuel Martic on the scoresheet for the Finnish outfit.
We say: Rigas Futbola Skola 1-2 HJK Helsinki
Rigas are certainly capable of turning the tie around on home soil, but we are finding it difficult to back the Latvian side on Tuesday night. HJK have put themselves in a strong position to progress, and we are also expecting them to win the second leg in Riga to record a 3-1 aggregate success.
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Zalgiris vs. KF Ballkani (Tuesday, 5.00pm)
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FK Zalgiris and KF Ballkani will lock horns in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round contest on Tuesday evening, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1.
Ballkani's Nazmi Gripshi made the breakthrough in the 15th minute of the first leg last week, before Oliver Buff got his name on the scoresheet 10 minutes later to leave the game tied ahead of the second leg.
We say: FK Zalgiris 2-0 KF Ballkani
The first leg was a lot closer than expected, but we are finding it difficult to back Ballkani to triumph on Tuesday evening. Zalgiris, arguably, have the superior quality in their squad, and we are expecting them to advance to the next round of the competition with a 3-1 aggregate success.
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Qarabag FK vs. Lech Poznan (Tuesday, 5.00pm)
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Trailing by a goal heading into Tuesday's second leg, Qarabag FK host Lech Poznan at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, in the first round of Champions League qualifying.
The winners of the tie will advance to a second-stage encounter with FC Zurich later this month; with the losers being consigned to the Europa Conference League.
We say: Qarabag FK 1-1 Lech Poznan (Lech Poznan win 2-1 on aggregate)
As both sides carry a goal threat and are used to taking the initiative, there could be opportunities at either end, following a relatively cagey first leg.
The Polish champions should progress, but it may require a backs-to-the-wall effort to secure their passage to the second qualifying round.
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Lincoln vs. Shkupi (Tuesday, 5.00pm)
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After losing 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie, Lincoln Red Imps will be aiming to produce an almighty comeback at home to Shkupi this Tuesday.
The visitors, meanwhile, have one foot in the second round of qualifying, and they will be looking to see out on the tie in Gibraltar.
We say: Lincoln Red Imps 1-2 Shkupi
Lincoln Red Imps will need to take risks as they look to turn around a three-goal deficit, but we think Shkupi will take advantage of any gaps left in behind the home defence to claim a narrow victory and subsequently book their place in the second round of qaulifying.
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Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Zrinjski Mostar (Tuesday, 6.00pm)
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Sheriff Tiraspol and Zrinjski Mostar will lock horns for the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round contest on Tuesday evening, with the tie delicately poised.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the first leg last week, but Sheriff will now have home advantage and are the favourites to progress to the second qualifying round of the competition.
We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 2-1 Zrinjski Mostar
Zrinjski were so impressive in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina last season and will be looking to draw on their performance level from 2021-22 to help them in this match. We are expecting it to be a very tight second leg on Tuesday but believe that Sheriff will ultimately have enough to progress.
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KF Tirana vs. Dudelange (Tuesday, 7.00pm)
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F91 Dudelange will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their first qualifying round Champions League contest with KF Tirana on Tuesday night.
The Luxembourg National Division champions recorded a 1-0 victory when the two teams locked horns in the first leg courtesy of a second-half header from Mohcine Hassan.
We say: KF Tirana 1-1 F91 Dudelange
Dudelange already have a one-goal advantage from the first leg, and we believe that could be crucial when it comes to the final result here. We are backing a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening, which would be enough for Dudelange to advance to the next round courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate success.
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KI vs. Bodo/Glimt (Tuesday, 7.00pm)
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After a comprehensive result in the first leg, Bodo/Glimt aim to complete safe passage from the Champions League's first qualifying round, as they visit KI Klaksvik on Tuesday.
A 3-0 win in Norway sees last season's Europa Conference League quarter-finalists within touching distance of a second round tie against either The New Saints or Linfield.
We say: KI Klaksvik 1-2 Bodo/Glimt (Bodo/Glimt win 5-1 on aggregate)
Perhaps taking their foot off the pedal in the second half, if they still hold a sizeable advantage, Bodo/Glimt may be restricted to a one-goal margin of victory.
Their greater ability and recent European experience, though, should prove sufficient to secure successive wins over KI, who are ill-equipped to compete at this level.
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Hibernians vs. Shamrock (Tuesday, 7.00pm)
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After winning 3-0 in Ireland last week, Shamrock Rovers will be looking to complete the job when they face Hibernians in the second leg of their Champions League first round qualifying tie.
The hosts, meanwhile, will be looking to utilise home advantage as they try to turn around a three-goal deficit.
We say: Hibernians 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Hibernians will be looking to make full use of home advantage on Tuesday as they bid to stage a remarkable comeback, but Shamrock Rovers demonstrated the quality they possess in their squad last week, and we think the Irish champions will prove too strong for their opponents once again in the second leg.
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Sutjeska Niksic vs. Ludogorets (Tuesday, 8.00pm)
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Ludogorets will aim seal a straightforward passage into the second round of Champions League qualifying when they travel to Sutjeska Niksic for the second leg of their first-round tie on Tuesday night.
The Bulgarian champions eased to a 2-0 win at home last week and will hope to finish the job with minimal difficulty in Montenegro.
We say: Sutjeska Niksic 0-1 Ludogorets Razgrad (Ludogorets win 3-0 on aggregate)
Sutjeska will have enjoyed a longer recovery period for this contest than Ludogorets, but Simundza's side have started the season as they mean to go on, and momentum is firmly on their side.
Simundza also has a wealth of attacking options ready to make the difference if fatigue comes into play, and we are backing the Eagles to cruise into round two with another clean sheet against their goal-shy hosts.
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Vikingur vs. Malmo (Tuesday, 8.30pm)
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Following an enthralling and bad-tempered first leg, Vikingur Reykjavik and Malmo reconvene for the second leg of their Champions League first-round qualifying tie at Vikingsvollur on Tuesday night.
The Swedish visitors edged a closely-fought contest 3-2 in the first leg, but the Icelandic champions are still very much in with a chance of a surprise result.
We say: Vikingur Reykjavik 1-2 Malmo (Malmo win 5-3 on aggregate)
Malmo would have been frustrated not to make their extra man count for more in the first leg, but a fit-again and in-form Christiansen wearing the armband is a recipe for success for the visitors.
The Allsvenskan champions can expect a hostile atmosphere at Vikingsvollur, but their recent spate of goal-laden showings can help them end the Vikingur dream, even if the Icelandic hosts can make things interesting with a goal on home soil.
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Barney Corkhill
