HSK Zrinjski Mostar and FC Sheriff Tiraspol clash in UCL first qualifying round
Zrinjski Mostar vs Sheriff Tiraspol - 06/07/2022
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Champions League first round qualifying kicks off this week with the first leg of matches for teams hoping to qualify for the tournament proper. It is a long, winding journey for the likes of HSK Zrinjski Mostar and FC Sheriff Tiraspol.
Last season, Sheriff Tiraspol were the talk of the Champions League. The team from Tranistria qualified for the group stage for the first time and even defeated eventual Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Sheriff Tiraspol are coming off of a domestic title win in the Dinizia Nationala, the top flight of Moldovan football. First up for Tiraspol in Champions League qualifying is HSK Zrinjski Mostar.
Mostar are coming off of a title win in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Noblemen played in the Europa League qualifying rounds two seasons ago, but missed out on European competition qualifying last term.
Champions League qualifying has come early this season due to the FIFA World Cup in November and December.
HSK Zrinjski Mostar have not started the domestic campaign and won begin the Premier League until July 16, four days after the second leg against Sheriff Tiraspol.
Sheriff Tiraspol will also begin their domestic campaign following the second leg of the Champions League first qualifying round.
The club is a big spender for teams at this level of European football. It is Sheriff Tiraspol’s spending that helped them qualify for the group stage last season.
The Moldovan champions will need to find a new goalscorer as last season’s co-top scorer in the Champions League, Sebastian Thill, has left for Germany’s Hansa Rostock.
In addition, Sheriff Tiraspol sold winger Adama Traore to Ferencvaros. The loss of off both players will hinder Tiraspol’s goal threat. Still, the Moldvan team has been good at uncovering talent and getting the most out of it.
Although Traore is gone, Sheriff have signed left winger Iyayi Atiemwen from Dinamo Zagreb. They will hope he can emulate Traore’s play.
HSK Zrinjski Mostar will likely be without the trio of Irfan Hadzic, Dragan Juranovic, and Nemanja Bilbija. All three are reportedly injured and at varying stages of recovery. Mostar have signed left winger Mario Cuze from Dinamo Zagreb. The forward will be pushing for a start.
Sheriff Tiraspol have the talent and experience in the Champions League qualifying stages to go deep in this part of the tournament.
The Moldvan champions should post a win against Mostar to take into the second leg. Tiraspol should win 2-0 in the end to put one foot in the second qualifying round.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UCL
252748
2
0 - 2
1.93
33°
2.00
3.40
3.25
2.00
no
no
no
0 - 0(0 - 0)
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