HJK Helsinki vs FK Crvena Zvezda
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The 2019/20 UEFA Champions League has reached the second leg of the second qualifying round.
These games are hugely important for clubs hoping to reach the lucrative group stages of the competition and on Wednesday 31st July we have an intriguing game between HJK Helsinki of Finland and FK Crvena Zvezda of Serbia.
The match will take place at the Telia 5G Areena in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.
The hosts have work to do having lost the first leg of the tie 2-0 in Belgrade. They conceded the first goal after 26 minutes and nearly managed to see the remainder of the game out but conceded again in the final minute.
The lack of an away goal could prove costly and HJK Helsinki’s form has not been great over the last few weeks. They have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions, losing one and drawing three. In addition to the loss in Belgrade, HJK Helsinki have drawn away to HB in the Champions League, away to Ilves and at home to VPS in the Veikkausliiga.
Trends show HJK Helsinki have won only two of their last eight games in all competitions and form has dropped off at the wrong time in terms of Champions League qualification. However, they have won four of their last eight home Champions League games, losing just one. Both teams have scored in four of their last seven home Champions League matches.
Crvena Zvezda will travel to Finland feeling good about their chances of qualification. Having won the first leg 2-0, they won their domestic league match by the same score on the weekend and that means they have won each of their last four competitive games.
Two of which have come in the Champions League, both at home and two have come in the Serbian Super Liga, again both at home.
Crvena Zvezda have played just one away match to date this season and that was in the first qualifying round of the Champions League. They were held to a 0-0 draw at Suduva but that was their first competitive game of the new campaign.
Away form in the Champions League shows no wins in their last five matches. All but one of those games was against tougher opposition than HJK Helsinki and Crvena Zvezda have seen both teams score in four of their last six away Champions League games.
Team news and HJK Helsinki are likely to go with close to the same starting XI from the first leg. The only change could see Tim Väyrynen start following his goal on the weekend.
Crvena Zvezda will also name a similar team to that which started the first leg. However, Milan Pavkov will be hoping to start up-front having been on the bench in the previous game.
Crvena Zvezda were not great in the away leg of their first round tie this early in the season and they may not have things all their own way in this match. However, they are the better team and should win perhaps by a one goal margin.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UCL
142957
2
0 - 1
1.75
15°
1.94
4.06
3.45
1.94
-1
-1
1
2 - 1(0 - 0)
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