Tuesday night will see three Champions League playoff round ties reach a conclusion with a place in Thursday’s group stage draw being the prize for the winners.
Olympiakos are one of the teams that look well placed to make it through to the group stage, as the Greek giants hold a 2-0 advantage over Cypriot champions Omonia ahead of their second-leg in Nicosia.
Pedro Martins’ side have certainly made a strong start to the season, as they have won their opening four matches of the new campaign across all competitions without conceding a goal.
The Piraeus-based club also have experience on their side, as they are regulars in the group stage, finishing third in their group behind eventual champions Bayern Munich and Tottenham last season.
Omonia, by contrast, have never made it through to the Champions League proper and that lack of experience is likely to count against them, with an Olympiakos win on the night perhaps seeming the most likely outcome at 10/13.
In-Form Kiev to Get the Job Done
Another Champions League regular that look well placed to reach the group stage are Dynamo Kiev, as they will take a 2-1 lead into their home leg pf their tie against Belgian outfit Gent.
Dynamo have failed to make it through the qualifiers in each of the last three seasons, but they appear a different proposition this term, winning seven of their eight games across all competitions to date.
Gent’s form is not so impressive, as Wim De Decker’s side currently sit 15th in the Belgian top-flight standings and they have lost each of their last two games, including the first-leg against the Ukrainians.
Kiev are priced at 20/23 to win Tuesday’s second-leg, while goals could also be on the agenda, with Mircea Lucescu’s men having scored a total of 11 in their last four games.
Ferencvaros Set for Return to Top Table
Hungarian champions Ferencvaros are within touching distance of making it through to the group stage for the first time in 24 years, as they claimed a 3-3 draw against Molde in Norway last week.
With three away goals to their name, Serhiy Rebrov’s side have a slight advantage they’ll seek to protect on home soil and nobody can doubt their credentials, as they have already come through three qualifying rounds to reach this stage, getting the better of Djurgardens, Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb.
Ferencvaros have also had a full week to prepare for this game, while Molde were losing in the Eliteserien at the weekend and the Norwegian champions are actually on a poor run of form, as their only victory in their last five games was via a penalty shootout against Azerbaijan’s Qarabag.
Although a Ferencvaros win is possible, the Hungarian side know they can reach the group stage with a low-scoring draw, so backing them to qualify at 5/12 could prove the safer option.
