Valletta V Ferencvaros Betting Tips: Ferencvaros & Over 2.5 Goals – 30 July 2019

Valletta V Ferencvaros

Tuesday 30th July 2019 – 19:00 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League Second Round
Pick: Ferencvaros WIN & Over 2.5 Match Goals
Odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: BetFred

	1	X	2
	89/20	3/1	11/20

* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 27th July 2019 at 11:49)

First Leg: Ferencvaros 3-1 Valletta (Goals: Henry Bonello (OG), Davide Lanzafame x2; Yuri de Jesus Messias)

Preview: Circumstances dictate that Valletta need to produce something extraordinary back in Malta if they are to prolong their participation in this competition following a 3-1 defeat in the first leg to Ferencvaros. Can the Hungarians champions safely see this tie out or will the Maltese title holders pull off what would likely go down as the biggest result in their history?

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Valletta Preview – Positive performance needed but will we see it?

With full-time approaching and the scoreline reading unfavourably, Valletta popped up with a late goal to give them a lifeline to take back to Malta. Now there is the small matter of not only winning this second leg but doing so by a margin of at least two goals. It is a huge ask, however, for a club whose list of scalps at home in European competition comprises exclusively of teams from countries considered minnows on the international stage.

Since 2011, Valletta have featured in the qualifying rounds for either the Champions League or Europa League in every season. Their record at home during this period reads as follows: W5 D4 L6. Those triumphs were earned against clubs from Andorra, Faroe Islands and San Marino. It is hardly a ringing endorsement regarding their chances of mounting a credible comeback.

This is also a team currently on a nine game run without winning in Europe (D6 L3). However, those batch of draws are at least an indication that this team has been capable of holding their own of late, especially in Malta. A 1-1 draw with Luxembourg’s F91 Dudelange in the previous round made it just one loss in four at home (D3 L1), a sequence which included an impressive stalemate with Eredivisie outfit FC Utrecht (0-0) as well as Albania’a Kukesi (1-1).

Valletta could also boast the strongest home figures in the Maltese Premier League last term (W9 D2 L2, GF30 GA8), en route to becoming champions for the 24th occasion. Meanwhile, their average of 2.31 goals per home game bodes well for the prospects of more goals in this second leg.

Ferencvaros Preview – Hungarians should press home their advantage?

In the previous round I highlighted Ferencvaros’ collective determination to reach the group stages of a European competition. That has clearly been evident so far, with their performances up until now that of a team with its eyes firmly on the prize. Bulgarian champions Ludogorets were confidently and impressively dispatched in the first round and, after racking up a healthy advantage in the first leg of this tie, it would appear the Maltese champions are next up on their list of conquests.

To concede in the closing stages would have been slightly deflating, though, as Ferencvaros were cruising towards the next round of the competition when 3-0 up. The Hungarian champions remain firmly in control of the tie but that late concession probably means they need to score at least once in Malta to be safe, as their record away from home on the continent would imply a clean sheet is unlikely.

In fact, even progression is far from assured based on their away record. Since 2011, the club nicknamed Zöld Sasok (Green Eagles) has won just four of their twelve European games as the visiting side (W4 D3 L5). Meanwhile, a 1-0 win in Latvia against Jelgava remains the only occasion they successfully managed to shut out a team on their travels in their most recent ten attempts.

The last round saw them concede twice in Bulgaria in what was a stunning 3-2 victory over Ludogorets, yet it was another demonstration of their inability to keep matters tight away from home. Therefore, manager Sergei Rebrov will likely back his attackers to do the business once more. Star man Davide Lanzafame – top goalscorer in the Hungarian NB1 last term – was in sublime form in the first leg to net twice, and his influence could be key out in Malta.

Betting Summary

In order to progress, Valletta would need to banish a barren run of nine matches without winning in Europe (D6 L3). This would also go down as their most high-profile victory in recent times, for a team used to preying on minnows but with a tendency to be found wanting against sides from more established nations.

Hungarian champions Ferencvaros are on the warpath to reach the group stage of this competition and shouldn’t show much mercy in this second leg. In the last round, Rebrov’s troops stormed Bulgaria and left with the notable scalp of Ludogorets when winning 3-2. Another performance of that level would be too much against inferior opponents by comparison.

There should be goals here. These teams have produced entertaining matches throughout so far (the 3-1 score in the first leg maintained their respective 100% records for producing both teams to score in this year’s competition). That is unlikely to change here as Valletta press for the win needed. The hosts’ desperation should suit Ferencvaros, who are backed to record another high-scoring success.