KUKESI v VALLETTA
Wednesday 11th July 2018 – Kickoff: 1800hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League Betting Tips
Albanian side, Kukesi, have been handed a Champions League qualifying spot following Skenderbeu Korce’s 10-year ban from European competitions for match-fixing, and the hosts will be looking to make the most of their first leg home tie with Maltese side, Valletta, on Wednesday night.
Kukesi finished runners-up to Skenderbeu in the Albanian Superliga at the end of the last campaign, but they come into this clash on the back of six matches without a win overall which includes a pre-season heavy 4-0 defeat to Maribor and a 1-1 draw away at Hermannstadt.
Kukesi’s only prior appearance in the Champions League was last season’s second qualifying round defeat to Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol even though they drew 2-2 on aggregate; they lost 1-0 away in the first leg, but bounced back with a 2-1 win at home but Sheriff scored that all-important away goal which saw them progress at Kukesi’s expense.
Maltese perennial champions, Valletta, captured a 24th league title by winning the Premier League and they also won the FA Trophy by seeing off Birkirkara to grab a domestic double which will be a timely boost for their Champions League preparations.
Since their FA Trophy final win though, Valletta haven’t played a competitive match (or any at all for that matter) since, and their previous Champions League appearances have been woeful to say the least – they’ve lost seven of their last eight ties overall.
In fact, Valletta have lost seven of their nine away matches at this level, with just two wins to their name having registered a 3-0 win at San Marino side, Tre Flori back in 2011, along with a 1-0 win at Andorran outfit, Lusitanos in 2012.
Valletta have since slumped to four defeats on the trot on the road with losses at Partizan, Qarabag, B36 Torshavn and Crvena Zvezda.
Pick: Kukesi to win @ 1.62 bwin
