Midtjylland (Den) vs Slovan Bratislava (Svk) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-08-20 19:00.
[p]After knocking out UE Santa Coloma and Ferencváros in the two previous UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, Midtjylland host Slovan Bratislava in the first leg of the play-off round on Wednesday. With a place in the lucrative new look league stage up for grabs, the Danish Superliga champions will be looking to extend their unbeaten home record across all competitions to nine games (W6, D2), a run which includes four victories and four clean sheets so far this season![/p]
[p]The Wolves also have a strong pedigree at the MCH Arena in continental competition where they have suffered only two defeats from their last 14 outings (W7, D5). But with a measly away record in Europe of just one win from their last 13, they will be keen to take any kind of advantage to Slovakia ahead of next week’s second leg.[/p]
[p]Slovan have had no such away-day issues, and they’ll make the long journey north protecting an unbeaten European away record in this campaign (W1, D2) as they once again attempt to qualify for the UCL proper for the first time in their history. This is the closest the Sky Blues have come since a play off defeat in 2014 and if VladimĂr Weiss’ side could mark their eighth competitive fixture in Denmark (D4, L3) with their first victory, then a huge step towards the promised land will have been taken.[/p]
[p]A 2-1 home win over Košice on Saturday evening continued a fine start to the season for Weiss’ side, who are the only team with a 100% record intact and sit top of the division as they chase their seventh successive domestic league title. It also means they have won five out of five at home across all competitions in the 2024/25 season, so anything other than a heavy defeat in the first leg should see the squad return to Slovakia confident of progression. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Midtjylland keeper ElĂas Rafn Ă“lafsson spent last season out on loan but has already kept three clean sheets in this season’s UCL and is yet to concede at home since his return. He’ll likely face forward David Strelec, who came off the bench to score Slovan’s opener on Saturday and he has been in red hot form in UCL games this campaign (G3, A3).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Both teams won 2-1 with injury time winners in their domestic fixtures this weekend.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]