Champions League "Stat Packs" (Patreon)
Content
Hey all! This is something new I'm going to start doing for bigger competitions as a way of driving content and giving back on the educational side of things! With some pretty obscure teams playing in the next couple days, I want to provide some extra stats for those that understandably don't know these clubs! These don't have picks attached to them yet but are for the people that like reading and researching these clubs a bit! Since I'm not doing picks today I'll be posting these throughout the day when I have time between shows! These will include leans but I will not be placing a single bet until I post full picks tonight!
Here's the first three!
Urartu FC v Zrinjski
- Urartu is the best team currently in the Armenian top flight of soccer, having won the league the past two years (22, 23), and is a weirdly competitive league with other teams with European history like Pyunik, Ararat and Alashkert.
- Urartu has scored in 18/20 games in league play and league cup matches, with their last match being them winning the Armentia Cup Final against Shirak FC.
- Urartu has not played a match since May 13. This is a tough break and could see some rust because of it.
- Zrinjski is the best team currently in Bosnia & Herz having also won their league the last two seasons, which included winning the Bosnia n Cup Final 1-0, and winning the semi-final 7-0 in aggregate.
- Home field advantage should be a massive player in both these games. I think both teams could end up scoring here but will be hard for either side to be fully cracked open at home.
**LEANS. BTTS AND URARTU DNB**
Lincoln Red Imps v Qarabag FK
- This is the first ever meeting between these two clubs
- Lincoln Red Imps are one of the three teams that matter in Gibraltar's top flight, alongside Magpies and Europa. Lincoln is so good locally, the Gibraltar National Team is made up of 8 of the Lincoln players, they are incredible domestically averaging 3.6 goals scored and .8 goals conceded this season domestically.
- Domestic success doesn't really translate to European Success, and they are greatly outclassed here by Qarabag.
- If Lincoln want to qualify they will have to score goals in this first leg, because beating Qarabag in Azerbaijan would be a historic upset
- Qarabag has NEVER been eliminated from the first round of Champions League qualifying.
- Expect goals here. Lincoln have scored in 6 games staright, scoring over 2 in 4/6. Qarabag have scored in 23/25 matches straight with over 2.5 hitting in 8/10.
*** Leans BTTS, Over 2.5, Qarabag 1.5 TT +ML***
FK Zalgiris v Struga
-Zalgiris are one of the best Lithuania has to offer, winning the league 4/5 years, but are currently behind Panevezys this season.
- Zalgiris starting goalie Edvinas Gertmonas went out last match with injury, he could miss this game which is a huge blow to the defense of the shots.
- While the keeper being out is a big blow, Zalgiris wins games off their attack. They've scored 14 goals in their last 4 matches.
- Home field and European Experience will be massive here. Zalgiris have been here before while Struga is new to this level of competition. I think the hosts make a statement knowing they need to win at home here.
- Struga for Macedonian First League kind of popped up out of nowhere. They were dead last in the league back in 2020, and now this season are dominating everyone with a record of 20-8-2.
- Struga attack is led by 2 attackers in particular. Besart Ibraimi and Bunjamin Shabani. If they do score it'll most likely be off of one of these two.
** LEANS Zalgiris 1.5 TT, Zalgiris 1h goal**