Is the task too big for FC Sheriff?

In the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League 2024/25, there was a surprise last Thursday when multiple Champions League participants Sheriff Tiraspol were beaten 1-0 at home by a supposed underdog from Azerbaijan. If Zira’s bet on the Transnistrian club’s away win against Sheriff Tiraspol doesn’t work out, the surprise would be perfect

One or two fans of underdog teams will certainly remember Sheriff Tiraspol’s legendary 2:1 away win at Real Madrid. However, the team from Transnistria have rarely really covered themselves in glory on foreign pitches. The yellow-and-blacks are currently without another win in eight European away games (two draws, six defeats), which is why the prediction of a turnaround for the supposed favourites in Zira against Sheriff Tiraspol is also fraught with great risks

It is clear that FC Sheriff has a lot to offer the underdogs from Azerbaijan in terms of experience. To be precise, 160 competitive international matches. However, it is also clear that the Tiraspol outfit have recently undergone a major upheaval and that there are hardly any big names left in the squad. Based purely on the estimated total market value of the two squads, the Azerbaijani runners-up even have a slight advantage. The home side also have the 1-0 lead from the first leg in their favor. Zira can therefore take a very defensive approach to the second leg and wait for counter-attacks.

As the visitors cannot afford to go through the wall from the start, it makes a lot of sense to bet on under 2.5 goals in the second leg. If you’re not afraid to take a risk, you can also get extremely interesting odds of 3.80 for bet 1 at Winamax – you can access this bookmaker’s new customer bonus via the following banner – which is definitely associated with value.

Zira – Statistics & current form

Zira Futbol Klubu is based in the municipality of the same name, Zira, which belongs to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. The club, which plays in sky blue and white, is quite an upstart.

The club was only founded on July 28, 2014, which means it will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in exactly ten days. The Qartallar (German: die Adler) would love to be in the draw for a place in a European group stage

Will Zira not let anything happen in the second leg?

Until now, the club that finished runners-up in the Azerbaijani Premyer Liqa last season has never managed to survive the second qualifying round of an international competition. In a total of three knockout matches with a first and second leg, the Sky Blue & Whites only came out on top once.

However, they could now reach the second round of Europa League qualifying for the first time since 2017/18. With the 1:0 away win in Transnistria behind them, the ticket for the next round would already be booked if Zira’s bet on a draw against Sheriff Tiraspol in front of a home crowd in Baku works out

Zira are inexperienced internationally, but very experienced

The 1-0 first-leg victory, in which Georgian attacker Davit Volkovi scored the acclaimed winner in the 89th minute, was only Zira FK’s third win in their seventh competitive international match (two draws, two defeats).

The team, which has been coached by Rashad Sadygov since 2020, has the advantage of familiarity on its side, however. Only seven players left the club this summer, with almost all of the regulars being retained and the squad being strengthened with interesting players.

Predicted line-up from Zira:
Silva – Nuriyev, Ruan, Acka, Djibrilla – Aliyev, Ibrahimli, Zebli – Volkovi, Ahmadzada, Utzig

Sheriff Tiraspol – Statistics & current form

FC Sheriff Tiraspol, founded in 1996, is not a very old club either, but thanks to the financial resources of main sponsor Sheriff, it has quickly become the absolute superpower in the Republic of Moldova.

Between 2001 and 2023, the yellow-and-blacks won the national championship no fewer than 21 times, only missing out on it once in the 2010/11 season. It was only in the past season that the Osy (meaning “wasps”) were somewhat surprisingly beaten by Petrocub Hîncești and had to make do with the runners-up spot.

Clear downward trend recognizable at Sheriff Tiraspol

So instead of aiming for another run in the Champions League, where the now well-known soccer club from Transnistria has already achieved many a respectable success, FC Sheriff Tiraspol are now only heading for the Europa League qualifiers.

Here again, the Osy have their backs to the wall after an unexpected 0:1 home defeat against the Azerbaijani runners-up. But at least the bookmakers believe in a turnaround. The odds for Zira against Sheriff Tiraspol are very clearly in favor of the visitors, but that is a very risky assessment

Sheriff Tiraspol with a very weak record in Europe recently

In the end, the Yellow and Blacks have had very little international success of late. FC Sheriff are winless in eight competitive international matches (two draws, six defeats) and have also won just two of their last 18 European away matches (five draws, eleven defeats).

The fact that they have not only brought in a new coach this summer in Yuriy Hura, but have also given the team a completely new look with 17 departures and 16 new additions, makes the task of putting in a cohesive team performance at such an early stage all the more challenging, as they lack individual quality and will therefore only work as a collective. In other words, the Osy will have to put in a really big performance in Baku if they are to put the first leg defeat behind them.

Predicted line-up for Sheriff Tiraspol:
Al-Tumi – Lins, Pata, Yade, Behiratche – Paulo, Kyabou, Allach – Badolo, Ademo, Akanbi

Zira – Sheriff Tiraspol head-to-head comparison / H2H result

Head to head: 1 – 0 – 0

Last Thursday’s first leg was the first and only meeting between the two clubs to date. The Azerbaijani runners-up lead the direct comparison thanks to their 1-0 away win in Transnistria

Zira – Sheriff Tiraspol betting tip

The best bookmakers’ odds for Zira v Sheriff Tiraspol are remarkably in favor of the internationally very experienced guests. However, more than the illustrious name of the multiple Champions League participant does not speak for a turnaround. The home side are only about to play their eighth competitive European match, while this is match number 168 for FC Sheriff. However, Zira FK are very experienced and have at least as much quality in their squad as the runners-up from the Republic of Moldova, who have been completely overhauled this summer.

We expect the home side to take a calm approach to the game. They will be secure at the back and lurk for transitional situations up front. It could be tough, especially as the visitors must not be too hasty in unpacking the crowbar. An early 0:1 deficit would almost mean the end of the game.

Accordingly, our prediction for Zira against Sheriff Tiraspol is under 2.5 goals. At Betano we play this bet at odds of 1.70 with four out of ten units. If you are not yet registered with this provider, you can currently claim an exclusive €20 freebet in addition to a 100% bonus up to €80 with the Betano new customer bonus