PARTIZANI TIRANA v MARIBOR
Thursday 12th July 2018 – Kickoff: 1630hrs
Football – Europe – Europa League Betting Tips
Albanian outfit, Partizani Tirana, will entertain Slovenian side, Maribor, at their Stadiumi Selman Stërmasi in Tirana as Thursday night’s hosts look to make the most of their ‘wild-card’ entry into this season’s Europa League.
Partizani finished in fifth place of the Albanian Superliga and outside of the qualifying spots for European football, but following the 10-year ban handed down to title holders, Skenderbeu, for match-fixing, Partizani get a chance to impress in the Europa League this term.
The hosts have had previous experience in the Europa League, but not necessarily happy memories as they’ve failed to win any of their last 12 ties, and indeed, have managed to win just once in their 15 matches played – that being a 4-2 home win over Maltese side, Birkirkara, back in 2004.
Visitors, Maribor, were involved in the group stages of the Champions League last season, but they’ll enter the qualifying rounds of this season’s Europa League following their runners-up finish to Olimpija in the Slovenian 1.SNL at the end of last season.
Maribor came agonisingly close to another Champions League appearance this term as they were edged out on goal difference by Olimpija, but nevertheless, Maribor will fancy their chances of at least reaching the group stages of this competition and maybe into the knockout rounds. In last season’s Champions League, Maribor earned veritable points against Spartak Moscow (home and away) and Sevilla in draws.
Maribor were impressive away from home on the domestic front as they won 14 of their 18 matches on the road and suffering just one defeat in the campaign on their travels, while recent wins against Aberdeen and Qabala in the Europa League in 2016 along with six wins from their eight pre-season matches so far this term, should place them in a strong position against Partizani on Thursday night.
Pick: Maribor to win @ 1.60 Bet Victor
