Mlada Boleslav v Skenderbeu Betting Tips: Albanians to get a positive result on the road

Czech Republic meets Albania on Thursday evening in the Europa League as Mlada Boleslav play host to Skenderbeu at Městský Stadion. Having got the better of Shamrock Rovers in the last round, courtesy of a 2-0 home victory in the second-leg, the hosts are likely to be in good spirits ahead of this match. Skenderbeu overcame a tough test against Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan in the last round and so they too should be feeling confident here.

As the hosts, Mlada come into this match as red-hot favourites although you can’t help but feel that a price of 4/9 is overdoing it a touch. Their win over Shamrock wasn’t all that convincing last time out while they’ve also tasted defeat on numerous occasions at home of late. In contrast, Skenderbeu aren’t often beaten on the road and come here having defied the odds against Kairat away from home just two weeks ago. At the prices, the bet that stands out is ‘Skenderbeu Win/Draw Double Chance’.

Mlada may well have beaten Shamrock by two goals to nil at home last time out but that score-line is perhaps a bit misleading. 2-0 often suggests that the winners wrapped things up in comfortable fashion but that wasn’t the case. The contest was a fairly even one where both teams managed just five shots on target between them. In fact, if it wasn’t for a couple of defensive lapses from the Irish side, that match probably would’ve finished 0-0. Put it this way, Mlada certainly didn’t create an abundance of chances. With this in mind, it’s easy to see them struggling a bit more than their price-tag suggests against a visiting team who’re useful at the back. On top of this, Mlada come into this fixture having lost three of their last five on home soil, as well as failing to win nine of their 14 historical home Europa League matches. Not exactly the most encouraging record.

In the last round, Skenderbeu showed that they’re no pushovers when taking a point away from home in Kazakhstan. Kairat are a side who’re very rarely denied on their own patch, even in the Europa League, and so there’s plenty to like about that result. What’s more, the Albanians were fully deserving of their point as they created more clear-cut chances, as well as nullifying their opponents’ threat for most of the contest. Such a performances bodes well and suggests that they’re certainly capable of getting something from this fixture.

In addition to a pleasing performance away from home in the last round, Skenderbeu come here with a very promising defensive record of late. Their domestic campaign may not have got underway as of yet but they’ve already played four competitive matches in this competition and have conceded just one goal, keeping an impressive three clean sheets. They’re also unbeaten in those four, winning three, drawing once and scoring eight goals in the process.

In all honesty, you could probably make a case for both of these sides and there may not be too much between them; however, there appears to be no real reason as to why Skenderbeu are so big in the betting. Much like they did during the last round, the Albanian visitors are fancied to defy the odds and get a positive result on their travels.

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