This Champions League second record qualification match sees Partizani from the Albanian capital Tirana take on Hungarian champions Ferencvaros. Last season saw KF Skënderbeu Korçë make Albanian football history as the only team to make it to the Champions League playoff round before dropping down to the Europa League. Skënderbeu recorded a shock 3-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the group stages of that Europa League campaign and this noteworthy appearance in Europe has now set the benchmark for Albanian football.
Partizani Tirana only finished second in the Albanian league last season but have been given entry in to the preliminary rounds of Europe’s top competition after champions Skënderbeu were caught up in a match-fixing scandal and disqualified. They obviously face a tough tie against Ferencvaros, however, maybe Skënderbeu’s campaign last season, as well as Albania’s half-decent showing at Euro 2016, can be some form of inspiration.
Hungarian champions Ferencvaros have won their domestic league a record 29 times but this recent top-spot finish was their first title since 2003/04. They have some excellent players in their squad including young midfielder Adam Nagy who was hugely impressive at EURO 2016. Alongside him in the centre they have Zoltan Gera who is no doubt passing vital experience on to his younger colleague.
Like Partizani, Ferencvaros will be looking to use their national team’s good performance at the Euros to inspire them to victory.
I am surprised that you can get any meaningful return from a straight Ferencvaros win considering the talent they have in their squad. This is the furthest round that Partizani have ever played in and I think the occassion and lack of experience could get to them. Ferencvaros to win at 6/5 is a good bet.
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