Partizan vs Sheriff Tiraspol prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-02-22 17:45.
Despite their supporters being banned from attending the match, Partizan took one step closer to a second successive appearance in the UEFA Europa Conference League’s (UECL) Round of 16 as one of just two away clubs to win in the first leg of this knockout round play-offs stage (1-0). Whilst this competition no longer has an away goals tiebreaker, the one-goal advantage will be of great value at a venue where they are yet to lose in UEFA competition this season (W2, D3).
Whilst far from invincible at Partizan Stadium, as most recently demonstrated by their last league home game in which they lost 4-0 to relegation contenders Mladost Lučani, the Serbian side don’t often lose at home in continental competition. Since the beginning of 2018/19, Partizan have suffered defeat just three times from 24 fixtures as the home side in all UEFA football (W14, D7), only losing out to Manchester United, Feyenoord and Gent.
Losing the first leg at home would have been even more bitterly disappointing for Sheriff Tiraspol considering they had a one-man advantage for 40 minutes, but they can focus their entire efforts on getting to the final 16 of any UEFA competition for the first time as their Moldovan Liga I campaign remains in its extended winter break. They’ll need to make history to do so, after losing nine UEFA ties in which they lost at home in the first leg.
Sheriff’s famous 2-1 win away to Real Madrid during the 2021/22 Champions League group stage gets a mention every time they make the journey outside of Moldova, but sadly that day remains a fluke rather than a breakthrough. Their 3-0 Europa League group stage win against Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus – a club that lost all six of their games – remains their only UEFA away victory since (D4, L5).
Players to watch: Partizan’s Ricardo Gomes followed up his ninth European goal of 2022/23 in the first leg with a league brace at the weekend. Meanwhile, the visitors will welcome back Rasheed Akanbi, their first goalscorer in that away victory over Omonia, from a yellow card suspension.
Hot stat: The three H2H meetings all produced 1-0 wins to Partizan, whilst six of the eight first leg matches in this knockout play-offs series also finished with a 1-0 result!