Sheriff Tiraspol want to return to the Champions League
The qualifying phase for the Champions League is currently going from strength to strength. The third round is already on the agenda, starting with the first legs, of course, before the decisions are made next week.
Before the match between Sheriff Tiraspol and Viktoria Pilsen, the bookmakers’ betting odds show that there is no clear favourite. Both teams have good chances to get a positive result. The odds for a home win, a draw and an away win are almost identical.
So, two teams meet that are not very different from each other individually. That could make this match all the more exciting.
Sheriff Tiraspol – Statistics & current form
Sheriff Tiraspol have already gained experience in the Champions League, defeating Real Madrid there, and naturally want to get back into the competition par excellence. For the hosts, it is now a matter of getting the best possible result in the first leg. But that won’t be easy, because the Czechs from Viktoria Pilsen are not travelling to the Republic of Moldova without ambitions.
The hosts made a number of new signings in the summer, but there were no well-known names among them. Even though Sheriff Tiraspol now has a name, the attractiveness of the league is anything but high. In the same league, they only managed a 1-1 draw against Zimbru Chisinau at the start, which was no recommendation.
However, that was only a minor slip-up. Looking at the statistics over a longer period of time, it is striking that Sheriff Tiraspol have not lost any of their last 15 competitive matches. The hosts have also been in the Champions League qualifiers since the 1st round, beating Mostar and Maribor.
Sheriff Tiraspol does not stand for spectacle
In the four matches Sheriff have played so far in qualifying for the top flight, only two goals have been scored. The hosts won both home games 1-0 and both away games ended 0-0, so with the league game included, four goals have been scored in five games. Therefore, before the match Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Viktoria Pilsen, our prediction is also that not both teams will score.
The hosts also impressed with their good defence last season. In a Champions League group with Inter, Shakhtar and Real Madrid, the Moldovans never conceded more than three goals, and in the domestic league they conceded only eight goals in 28 games.
The defence is therefore the flagship of the team, which in the pre-season caused problems for many European teams that are better staffed individually. That can also be an advantage in the new season. The fact that before the match Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Viktoria Pilsen the odds of the best bookmakers do not point to a clear favourite role for the hosts is due on the one hand to the many close games and on the other hand to the good quality that the guests bring with them.
Predicted line-up of Sheriff Tiraspol :
Celeadnic – Guedes, Radeljic, Kiki, Julien – Addo, Kyabou, Ambri, Badolo, Atiemwen – Yansane
Last matches played by Sheriff Tiraspol :
Super League
30/07/2022 – Zimbru 1 – 1 FC Sheriff
Champions League Qualifier
26/07/2022 – FC Sheriff 1 – 0 Maribor
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
Viktoria Pilsen – Statistics & current form
Viktoria Pilsen with coach Michal Bilek has a lot of plans. The Czechs may not travel to Sheriff Tiraspol as favourites, but the chances of a positive result are not that bad. What is true for Sheriff is also true for the Czechs: They have not lost any of their last 15 matches. So the team looks very stable, the competition in the Czech Republic is also bigger and individually better than in Moldova.
In contrast to Sheriff Tiraspol, Viktoria Pilsen have only played one round of qualifying. Against HJK Helsinki they won 2-1 away from home, at home they won 5-0. The league opener, which also has parallels to the hosts, ended in a draw. In the 2:2 against Teplice, the defence was not always up to scratch.
Of course, that has to change in order to be able to take something against an unpleasant Sheriff Tiraspol team. As already mentioned, the stability over a long period of time is there and will certainly help to get through more difficult situations.
Viktoria Pilsen also impress with good defence
Many elements of both teams are similar. Viktoria Pilsen also don’t always have the big punch offensively, however defensively it looks very good what the Czechs are playing. The organisation is good, in the pre-season there were only 19 goals conceded in 30 games in the regular season in the Fortuna Liga.
So the statistics of both teams are relatively identical, which is why the odds are so complicated. The home strength of the hosts can be a decisive factor in this match, which is why before the match Sheriff Tiraspol vs Viktoria Pilsen our value tip is that the home side will win.
Predicted line-up of Viktoria Pilsen:
Stanek – Reznik, Pernica, Hejda, Havel – Kalvach, Bucha, Sikora, Kopić, Mosquera – Chory
Last matches played by Viktoria Pilsen:
1st League
30/07/2022 – Teplice 2 – 2 Viktoria Pilsen
Champions League Qualification
26/07/2022 – Viktoria Plzen 5 – 0 HJK
20/07/2022 – HJK 1 – 2 Viktoria Plzen
Club friendlies
12/07/2022 – Beşiktaş 0 – 0 Viktoria Pilsen
08/07/2022 – Viktoria Pilsen 1 – 3 VV St. Truiden
Sheriff Tiraspol – Viktoria Pilsen Direct comparison / H2H-balance
These two teams are meeting for the first time in a direct comparison. Direct comparison statistics are therefore not yet available
Sheriff Tiraspol – Viktoria Pilsen Tip
Sheriff Tiraspol want to play in the top flight again this season. The chances are there, but the opponent is not a bad one. Both teams should give each other nothing in these duels.
The starting position is very even, especially defensively both have a lot of quality. Therefore, before the match Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Viktoria Pilsen, our tip is that not both teams will score.
