FK Qarabag vs Olimpija Ljubljana Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Qarabag claimed a victory in their first leg meeting with Olimpija, which put them on course for the next round of the Champions League. These two have kicked off their new campaigns in the first qualifying round of Europe’s biggest competition, and the hosts are dreaming of another run to the group stage. They were able to match the likes of Atletico Madrid less than a year ago, so they’ll expect to claw their way through the demanding preliminary matches ahead of the Autumn’s group stage, which includes the biggest names in European football.

Getting that far always felt like a tall order for Olimpija, who had played just two Champions League matches before last week. Their third game in the competition brought a 1-0 defeat, and now they head for Azerbaijan with a mountain to climb. Meanwhile, the hosts will be expecting to seal the deal with a home victory, following their recent experiences in Europe.

Baku was a tough place to travel for sides this season, with Chelsea and Roma both struggling in visits to this ground. We also see Olimpija having a tough time here, especially having made a single Champions League away trip in their history. The hosts will be well versed in European ties, after recent runs in the Champions League and Europa League, something which is largely down to their excellent home form.

Qarabag didn’t concede a goal at home on their way to making the group stage last year. They have made impressive European runs across the last few seasons, and we expect them to follow that up with a positive result here. As a team who have been through tight contests before, they’ll know that their single away goal in the last clash doesn’t give them the advantage here. They will be out to finish the job, and they should take advantage of the inexperienced Slovenian opponents.

The hosts have a fantastic home record domestically, as they won 71% of their matches at this ground last season. We think they’re value for the win yet again, and we’re backing them to come out with a victory on Wednesday night. However, the hosts averaged just 1.29 goals per game in front of their own fans, and they’re used to narrow wins. With that in mind, we think a Qarabag victory and clean sheet in the match is also a good value choice, with a 2-0 home win our correct score prediction.