Is this year’s CL fairy tale of Sheriff Tiraspol over?
Last season, FC Sheriff Tiraspol made a splash by reaching the group stage of the 2021/22 Champions League and caused a few surprises in UEFA’s prestigious competition. Among other things, the Moldovan record champions won a match against the royals from Madrid.
This season, FC Sheriff embarked on the next fairytale in the top flight. After eliminating teams like Zrinjski Mostar and Maribor from the competition in the previous rounds, they faced their first top-class opponent in the third qualifying round, Viktoria Pilsen. However, Sheriff failed in their test against the Czech champions.
Last week, the Moldovan record champions suffered a bitter home defeat against the visitors from Pilsen. Despite leading at one stage, FC Sheriff lost 2-1 and now face a difficult second leg in Pilsen.
Victoria Plzen vs. Sheriff Tiraspol odds of 6.50 are currently being offered for a bet on the visitors from Moldova. However, bets on this have no value at all. Viktoria Plzen are unbeaten in international home matches at the Doosan Arena since November 2018. The last time they lost at home was against Real Madrid in the group stage of the CL 2018/19. Since then, Viktoria Pilsen have gone seven consecutive international matches without a home defeat.
Viktoria Pilsen – Statistics & current form
Viktoria Pilsen are on course for the group stage of the top flight. The Eastern Europeans have made a sensational start to the season so far, winning every match on the international stage. After kicking HJK out of the top flight in the previous round, FC Sheriff Tiraspol are now to follow. The Czech champions won the first leg in Moldova 2-1.
Viktoria will now rely on home advantage. The comparatively clear favourites at the bookmakers are not without reason: The home side have not lost a game in Pilsen on the international stage for almost four years. Internationally, they have even won eight of their last nine home games.
It is quite possible that this record will be extended against FC Sheriff Tiraspol. If the next win against the Moldovan record champions is on the cards, betting odds of up to 1.50 are currently being paid out for Viktoria Pilsen vs.
Next big win at the Doosan Arena?
So far, Viktoria Pilsen have not lost a single match this season. The Czech champions have won four of their five competitive matches. Only in the league match against FK Teplice did Viktoria fail to win. In the five matches of the current season, Viktoria Pilsen have flexed their offensive muscles.
After all, the Czech champions already have 13 goals to their name after five matches. Viktoria Pilsen scored five of the 13 goals in the last round at home against HJK Helsinki. The Eastern Europeans celebrated an impressive home victory (5:0), in which Sykora shone above all. The summer newcomer from Poland recorded a total of three scorer points against the Finns.
Sykora will therefore be back on the wings. Major changes are not to be expected in the starting eleven. With Pejsa, only one player is missing in the ranks of the Eastern Europeans due to injury. There are no other absentees.
Predicted line-up of Viktoria Pilsen:
Stanek; Pernica, Hejda, Havel; Sykora, Bucha, Kalvach, Pilar; Kopic, Kliment, Chory
Last matches played by Viktoria Pilsen:
1st League
06/08/2022 – Viktoria Pilsen 2 – 1 Pardubice
Champions League Qualification
02/08/2022 – FC Sheriff 1 – 2 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
Sheriff Tiraspol – Statistics & current form
For FC Sheriff Tiraspol, the adventure in the top flight is coming to an end. With the unfortunate defeat in the first leg, FC Sheriff lost the home advantage against Viktoria Pilsen last week. The second leg will be a real test of endurance.
Not only because Viktoria Pilsen are one of the teams with the strongest home form in the current CL qualifiers, but also because FC Sheriff have won only one of their last eight away matches on the international stage. However, bettors who would like to make a prediction on Viktoria Pilsen vs. Sheriff Tiraspol can get betting odds of up to 6.50.
Because FC Sheriff did not make a good impression in the away games against Zrinsjki and Maribor in the current CL qualifiers, bets on an away win for FC Sheriff are also associated with a lot of risk this time. However, last weekend’s 3-1 win over Sf. Gheorghe in the Moldovan Super Liga should not be overrated.
Can FC Sheriff defy the Czech attack?
Viktoria Pilsen do not, after all, possess a far stronger defence than FC Sheriff’s most recent opponents. In addition, Tuesday’s opponent is also stronger on the offensive. It therefore remains to be seen whether FC Sheriff can defy the Eastern Europeans’ strong attacking department this time.
FC Sheriff Tiraspol have not been convincing against Czech teams so far. In a total of seven matches against clubs from the Czech Republic, Sheriff Tiraspol have only managed one win. In return, there have been three defeats in this period. In total, FC Sheriff has a record of 1-5-3 after seven matches against Czech teams.
Just like in the first leg a week ago, FC Sheriff will start the second leg with their best line-up. Head coach Stjepan Tomas has no personnel worries. Last weekend in the league match against Sf. Gheorghe, several key players were spared for the match in the top flight.
Predicted line-up of Sheriff Tiraspol:
Abalora; Guedes, Kiki, Radeljic, Kpozo; Badolo, Kyabou, Lushkja; Ouattara, Tejan, Akanbi
Last matches played by Sheriff Tiraspol:
Super League
06/08/2022 – FC Sfintul Gheorghe 1 – 3 FC Sheriff
Champions League Qualifier
02/08/2022 – FC Sheriff 1 – 2 Viktoria Pilsen
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
Viktoria Plzen – Sheriff Tiraspol Direct comparison / H2H-balance
Last week Viktoria Pilsen and Sheriff Tiraspol met for the first time in their club history. The Czechs prevailed 2-1 away from home to lead the direct comparison against FC Sheriff with a record of 1-0-0.
Viktoria Plzen – Sheriff Tiraspol Tip
Sheriff FC have not yet ticked off the qualification for the top division. However, after the 1:2 in the first leg, the Moldovan record champion has bad cards to enter the play-offs of the CL qualification. To do so, FC Sheriff Tiraspol must overcome the difficult hurdle of Viktoria Pilsen.
Looking at Viktoria Pilsen’s recent home record on the international stage, that scenario is rather out of the question. The last time Viktoria suffered a home defeat on the international stage was in November 2018. At that time, Viktoria lost to Real Madrid, and since then there have been nine home defeats in a row on the international stage. In the Viktoria Pilsen vs. Sheriff Tiraspol match, however, the prediction, at odds of 1.50, on a home win does not seem very lucrative.
Eight of the last nine home games have even been won by Viktoria in UEFA’s international club competitions. We therefore think it is obvious to bet on a win for the Czech representative this time as well. For Viktoria Pilsen vs. Sheriff Tiraspol we dare to bet on “HT/FT: 1/1”. A prediction on this already paid off in the last qualifying round against HJK.
