FC Sheriff on course for the group stage of the top flight
Last season, FC Sheriff Tiraspol were already represented in the group stage of the Champions League and caused a stir in a hammer group with Inter, Real Madrid and Schachtjor. Now the Moldovan record holders are on course for a second successive appearance in the top flight and have one foot in the door to the next qualifying round.
As in the previous round, FC Sheriff earned a goalless draw away from home against NK Maribor in the first leg of their qualifying campaign, setting the stage for the second leg at home. FC Sheriff are now comparatively clear favourites at home against the Slovenian champions
FC Sheriff have lost only two of their last eleven matches at home on the international stage. Both defeats were against top European teams such as Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Since the last home defeat, however, FC Sheriff have won two home matches in a row in UEFA’s international club competitions – a good omen ahead of the second leg against NK Maribor?
Sheriff Tiraspol – Statistics & current form
New season, new luck. FC Sheriff Tiraspol are again in this season’s top flight qualifiers and are meanwhile on course for the third qualifying round. In the first qualifying round, FC Sheriff already beat Bosnian champions HSK Zrinjski Mostar to advance to the second round.
With NK Maribor, FC Sheriff Tiraspol did not get an easy draw in the second round. Nevertheless, the draw away from home was a satisfactory result, as the second leg will be played at the home of FC Sheriff. At home, the Moldovans have lost only two of their last eleven home games on the international stage since 2019.
If they can build on that record with another win, the betting odds on Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Maribor are 1.63 for the Moldovan record champions. The defensive bulwark of FC Sheriff speaks for itself. In the current qualifying campaign, head coach Stjepan Tomas’ side have yet to concede a goal in any of their three matches.
Will the clean sheet be maintained again?
Against NK Maribor, FC Sheriff had just five shot attempts to defend over 90 minutes. It would therefore be all the more surprising if, with home advantage behind them, they now concede defeat. The last time a home game was lost on the international stage was last season.
Neither against Inter Milan nor against Real Madrid could FC Sheriff score in their own stadium. However, the Moldovan record champions did manage a surprise coup at the Royal Madrid. In addition, FC Sheriff scored in both matches against Shakhtyor Donetsk.
Although there have been some changes in the FC Sheriff squad since then, the Moldovan record holders still have the potential to make a splash this season, at least in qualifying. Against NK Maribor, Sheriff Tiraspol will start the second leg with their best possible line-up and will only have to do without winger Atiemwen.
Predicted line-up of Sheriff Tiraspol:
Abalora; Guedes, Radeljic, Kiki, Kpozo; Badolo, Kyabou, Lushkja; Ouattara, Yansane, Pernambuco
Last matches played by Sheriff Tiraspol:
Champions League Qualifier
21/07/2022 – Maribor 0 – 0 FC Sheriff
12/07/2022 – FC Sheriff 1 – 0 Zrinjski Mostar
07/07/2022 – Zrinjski Mostar 0 – 0 FC Sheriff
Cup
21/05/2022 – FC Sfintul Gheorghe 0 – 1 FC Sheriff
National Division
14/05/2022 – FC Sfintul Gheorghe 0 – 2 FC Sheriff
Maribor – Statistics & current form
NK Maribor squandered home advantage against FC Sheriff with a goalless draw in the first leg. The Slovenian record champions will now have to pull off a surprise coup away from home to knock FC Sheriff out of the competition in regulation time. Another draw, on the other hand, would send the game into extra time.
The last time the “Vijolice” from Maribor failed to qualify for the top flight was in the second round in the 2015/16 season. Since then, NK Maribor have been in the Champions League qualifiers twice. In both seasons – 2017 and 2019 mind you – NK Maribor fought their way to at least the third round of CL qualification.
In the 2017/18 season, the Slovenian record champions were even represented in the group stage of the top flight. Nevertheless, this year it cannot be ruled out that NK Maribor will fail in the second round of the current qualification phase. At least that is the interim conclusion after the poor performance in the first leg against FC Sheriff.
Can Maribor crack the Moldovan defensive bulwark?
Against FC Sheriff, NK Maribor will have to work on their attacking game in the second leg. Last week, the Slovenian record champions gritted their teeth throughout the match and failed miserably against the strong defence of the Moldovan representatives. Nevertheless, major changes in the starting eleven are rather out of the question.
Head coach Radovan Karanovic sent his best starting eleven into the first match against FC Sheriff. This team won the league match against ND Gorica on the previous matchday and thus gained self-confidence before the return match. However, the double burden should be noticeable in the match against FC Sheriff.
In addition, Jug, Milec, Pihler and Bozic, four players with starting potential in the ranks of the Slovenian record champions, are still out due to injury. So it’s not the best conditions ahead of the second leg with FC Sheriff.
Predicted line-up of Maribor:
Bergsen; Guerrico, Watson, Mitrovic, Sikosek; Antolin, Repas; Zugelj, Kronaveter, Brnic; Baturina
Last matches of Maribor:
Prva Liga
24/07/2022 – Maribor 3 – 2 Gorica
Champions League Qualifier
21/07/2022 – Maribor 0 – 0 FC Sheriff
Prva Liga
17/07/2022 – Maribor 0 – 3 Radomlje
Champions League Qualifier
13/07/2022 – Shakhtyor Salihorsk 0 – 2 Maribor
07/07/2022 – Maribor 0 – 0 Schachzjor Salihorsk
Sheriff Tiraspol – Maribor Direct comparison / H2H balance
Last week FC Sheriff Tiraspol and NK Maribor met for the first time ever. The match in Slovenia ended in a goalless draw. This was the second time that NK Maribor remained winless in their third competitive match against a Moldovan side.
Sheriff Tiraspol – Maribor tip
The hosts from Tiraspol set the course for the next round with the goalless draw, as they did in the last round, and are now banking on home advantage in the second leg. Considering how strong FC Sheriff have been in their own stadium lately, the Moldovan record holders should not have too much trouble against NK Maribor.
The Slovenians already delivered a weak performance last week despite home advantage and were far too harmless, especially in their offensive play. After their recent performance against FC Sheriff, a surprise coup in Moldova is unlikely, especially since Maribor have only won one of their three matches against Moldovan clubs so far.
Just like the bookmakers, we see FC Sheriff as favourites and expect a comfortable home win for the Moldovan record champions. For Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Maribor, our betting odds of 2.55 are on “HT/FT: 1/1”. We are using five out of ten possible units for this bet.
