HJK and FK Buducnost Podgorica seeking upper hand in UCL qualifying first leg
HJK Helsinki vs FK Buducnost - 06/07/2021
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The Champions League first qualifying round kicks off this week with a host of clubs seeking first-leg wins. On Tuesday night, Finnish club HJK host Montenegro’s Buducnost Podgorica at the Bolt Arena.
Buducnost Podgorica won the Montenegrin First Division in 2020-21 and now kick off their new season early with Champions League qualification.
The club’s domestic league is in the closed season meaning fitness could be an issue for the minnows from Montenegro.
HJK are in the middle of the Finnish Veikkausliiga. They lead the domestic competition as it stands with a brilliant record of 10W-1D-0L after 11 Veikkausliiga matches.
HJK will be a difficult side to defeat on Tuesday night playing at home in the first leg.
Manager Toni Koskela has an in-form team heading into the first round of Champions League qualification. They are on a six-match Veikkausliiga winning streak going into the fixture on Tuesday and will fancy their chances of another win.
Filip Valencic and Roope Riski lead HJK in goals in the Veikkausliiga with four apiece. Both players will be important to HJK’s cause on Tuesday at home.
HJK have been in excellent in defence this season allowing a mere five goals in 11 Veikkausliiga games. It is the lowest tally in the league while scoring a league-leading 22 times.
HJK have won all five league games at home which will make them difficult to defeat on Tuesday.
Buducnost Podgorica lost just two times on the road in the Montenegrin First Division last term. They scored 34 times while conceding just 13 goals on the road domestically.
This is the second straight season in which Buducnost Podgorica have played in the Champions League first qualifying round.
Last season, they fell to Ludogorets 3-1 on aggregate over the course of the two-legged first qualifying round.
Buducnost Podgorica transferred to the Europa League where they reached the third qualifying round before being dumped out by Sarajevo. Head coach Mladen Milinkovic will hope the side can perform better this season.
The Montenegrin First Division is of lower quality than the Veikkausliiga that HJK play in. HJK have won the Veikkausliiga in eight of the last 12 seasons and are regulars in European qualifying round competitions.
HJK should be a handful for Buducnost Podgorica across the two-legged first qualifying round. The Finnish club are in the middle of their domestic campaign while Buducnost Podgorica are in the closed season.
Whichever team gets the upper hand on Tuesday night will be in the driver’s seat for qualification to the Champions League second qualifying round.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UCL
493318
1
2 - 0
2.39
18°
1.28
1.28
5.20
9.20
1
1
-1
3 - 1(3 - 1)
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