Finnish football may not yet have the same sound or results at national and club level as other Scandinavian countries Norway and Sweden, but it has certainly made great strides in recent years and champion club HJK Helsinki is no slouch. Especially at the beginning of the season, when Plzeň has not played a competitive match, and the game will be played on artificial grass in Finland, Victoria will not have an easy task.
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“As a result, I would have guessed a goalless draw in the first match. Pilsen did not score well in the preparation, they are still looking for a way to the goals of Jean-David Beauguel, who left the club, and the home side will also have a hard time launching an offensive storm against Viktoria. After all, there is a lot at stake, I expect a careful match. However, I consider Plzeň to be the clear favorite in the double-header, and already in Finland, at least with a draw, they should advance to the next stage of qualification for the Champions League,” expects Jiří Hadrava, a spokesperson for Tipsport.
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For Pilsen, this is an extremely important start to the new year, the Czech champion needs to earn money, which means getting into one of the European cups. According to the bookmakers, the Czech champion is the favorite both to win the match and to advance.
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Even the bettors themselves are convinced that coach Bílek’s wards should not hesitate in the double match. At the moment, fully 97% of the deposits are aimed at Pilsen’s progress.
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“In Finland, the summer signing, striker Kliment, who is under disciplinary punishment, will not start. The health status of key stopper and team captain Hejda is not 100%. On the other hand, Pilsen managed to get a quality Tijani in Hejd’s position. Personally, I’m curious how Viktoria will cope with the artificial grass, which is not in the best condition,” comments Roman Kovařík, Fortuna’s sports expert.
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“Pilsen will play careful football, they showed in the league that the team has strength at the back. Thanks to the ongoing league, Helsinki are more open, but they are troubled by a below-average finish, the team only rarely scores two goals in a match. Plzeň, as already said, knows how to defend, so a draw is offered in the match, either at half-time or at the end of the match (4.70:1),” judges Kovařík.
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“Betting experts predict that the reigning champions of the Czech league will play carefully and safely. While we only accepted 6% of bets on the Helsinki win with odds of 4.24:1, a draw at odds of 3.41:1 seems a little more likely to bettors, on which we register 11% of bets,” adds Markéta Světlíková, spokesperson for Chance.
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Sparta will face Norwegian Viking at home on Thursday in the preliminary round of the Conference League. Letenští are starting another new era under the leadership of the Danish coach Prisk, who went through Midtjylland or Royal Antwerp. Expectations from management are high by default. The home team is the favorite in the match, a win is priced at 1.50:1 odds, a draw at 4.40:1 odds, a Viking win at 6.30:1 odds.
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We will handle the premiere, assures Jakub Pešek, the hero from last season, before the match with Viking.Video: Sport.cz
Bettors do not take Viking as a complication, 95% of bets go to Sparta’s progress.
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“Sparta appropriately added to the squad in the summer, Kuchta, Mejdr, Zelený or Sadílek joined the team, all of whom are hard-working players who like to face personal battles and play with power. “Sparta has quality in its center and it is only a matter of time how quickly the Karabec-Fortelný pair will take over the game, who have the chance of a lifetime after the departure of Dočkal,” Kovařík reminds of the summer changes.
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“Anyway, Sparta’s squad looks the best it’s been in a while. Sparta should thus have the upper hand in the opening duel, despite the fact that the opponent is more open thanks to the ongoing Norwegian league. However, Viking is generally an average team that does not have an exceptional defense or offense. I can imagine that Sparta will dominate both halves at odds of 2.13:1,” advises Kovařík.
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“Stavanger is at the top of the competition in Norway, it has played in the league, but it will not be enough for Prague. Sparta has much more experience in cup Europe. The home environment will also be an advantage that can help the win. Sparta’s victory and more than 2 goals in the match are often bet,” adds Světlíková.
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A break, a must-win or a match between David and Goliath. This is how bettors see the upcoming match of Slavia, which awaits St. Joseph’s. With odds of 32:1, the team from Gibraltar is considered an outsider, with whom the people of Prague can easily deal. Bookmakers give odds of 1.07:1 for Slavia to win.
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“Neither Sparta nor Slavia can afford the slightest hesitation on the way to the Conference League group, but the road will probably be quite difficult. While Slavia initially goes on a pleasant trip to sunny Gibraltar, where they must clearly dominate, Sparta will welcome the unpleasant opponent Viking Stavanger, and the opening preliminary round will not be an easy task for them. Especially when it has not yet been played, while the competition is already in full swing in Norway,” Hadrava points out.
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The Stitchers have enough productive players, and Olayinka and Sor remain in the team. Jindřich Trpišovský’s team did well in the preparation and should now win with a clean record. Rapid Bucharest got 7 goals from Slavia and against the Gibraltar club they are clearly a top team. Slavia will win by at least two (1.29:1) or three (1.88:1) goals, football fans predict.
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