The race for a place in the UEFA Champions League group phase continues on Wednesday with two intriguing third qualifying round first legs. We look at the best bets and predictions for these two qualifiers.
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AGF Aarhus welcome Azerbaijan’s Sabah to Denmark, while Turkish giants Fenerbahçe host Austrian champions Sturm Graz in what promises to be the headline fixture of the evening.
AGF Aarhus vs Sabah
AGF arrive as deserved favourites after producing an impressive second qualifying round comeback against Lech Poznań, showing both resilience and attacking quality to progress. Playing the first leg at home should provide another significant advantage.
Sabah have proven difficult to break down during qualifying, but the step up in quality and the atmosphere in Aarhus could make life considerably tougher for the Azerbaijani visitors.
Prediction: AGF Aarhus to Win at 1.66.
AGF have shown they can create plenty of chances at home, while Sabah have found the net consistently throughout their European campaign. With the goal line set at 2.5, backing Over 2.5 Goals offers attractive value.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals at 1.70.
Fenerbahce vs Sturm Graz
Fenerbahçe continue their quest to reach the Champions League league phase and will be confident of taking a first-leg advantage in Istanbul.
The Turkish side possess greater experience at this level and have strengthened significantly, while home advantage at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium has often proved decisive in European competition.
Prediction: Fenerbahçe to Win at 1.34.
However, Sturm Graz should not be underestimated. The Austrian champions cruised past Hearts 6-0 on aggregate in the previous round and arrive in excellent form.
While Fenerbahçe are favourites, Sturm Graz possess enough attacking quality to contribute to an entertaining encounter.
Fenerbahçe have averaged more than two goals per game across their recent competitive fixtures, while Sturm Graz have carried excellent momentum into this tie. Goals look the safest angle.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals at 1.57.
