Linfield vs Zurich
4 August 1945hrs
Football – Europe – Europa League
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 21/20 odds taken 2000 GMT, Monday 1 August
Both Linfield and Zurich exited qualification for the Champions League last week, and will now do battle to reach the playoffs of the Europa League.
Table of Contents
Linfield Preview – Can Linfield bounce back after humbling defeat in Norway last week?
Hope would have been growing for Linfield following a famous 1-0 win at home to Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the second round of qualification for the Champions League. It was one of the most famous results in their history considering this was a team who reached the last eight of the Europa Conference League just a couple of months ago. But the Norwegian champions showed their quality in the second leg, demonstrating exactly how they defeated the likes of Roma and Celtic last season.
Linfield were on the wrong end of a 8-0 thrashing in the Arctic Circle, consigning them to attempting to qualify for the Europa League group stages instead. Manager David Healy will be attempting to lift his players after that humbling.
Zurich Preview – Will Zurich put Champions League disappointment behind them with victory on the road?
It has been quite a time for Zurich in recent seasons. Playing in the Swiss second tier as recently as 2017, the club went on to become champions of their country for a 13th time last season – their first since 2009. As is so often the case for teams competing at this level, success brings it’s own challenges and Zurich have found that out to their cost.
Andre Breitenreiter has moved on to the Bundesliga to coach Hoffenheim despite only being at Zurich for the one season. Top scorer from last season Assan Ceesay has also departed in the summer, so there has notable changes which are always likely to impact the following season.
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Like their opponents on Thursday, Zurich have also suffered an early exit in Champions League qualification, although there’s was a lot closer. The Swiss club took the tie into extra time with a goal in the last minute of the second leg, only to lose out in agonising fashion.
It’s been that sort of start for new head coach Franco Foda. The former Austrian and Sturm Graz boss has yet to taste victory in the Super League, either, with two defeats and a draw. They haven’t even scored a goal domestically, so hardly the star to their title defence they envisaged.
Linfield vs Zurich Betting Advice
The winners of this tie will progress to the the playoff round of this competition, at the same time guaranteeing themselves European group stage football of some guide (should they lose the playoff tie they drop into the Europa Conference League). The losers, on the other hand, will have to take their chance in the playoff round of the Conference League.
Whoever progresses from this tie will face Scottish club Hearts, whilst the losers will likely face Cluj.
Key Facts – Linfield vs Zurich Betting Tip
- Linfield had taken a 1-0 lead with them to Norway but were thumped 8-0 away to Bodo in the second leg
- Zurich suffered an agonising 5-4 aggregate defeat to Qarabag in Champions League qualifying
- The losers of this tie will drop into the playoff of the Europa Conference League
Putting all this permutations to the side, the first leg is going to be critical for Linfield. They have shown they are capable at home but struggle on their travels. Three of their four games in this European campaign have went under 2.5 goals and this could well be another of those.
Best Betting Odds for Linfield vs Zurich
