Skenderbeu v Mlada Boleslav Betting Tips: Albanians to turn it around on home soil

Skenderbeu may have lost (2-1) in the first-leg last week, a result that will have been hard to take considering they scored to level things at 1-1 with just four minutes remaining, but there is still hope for them here. Scoring that away-goal was vital and, with the deficit at just one, there is every chance that the Albanian outfit can turn things around on their own patch. Mlada probably did do enough to edge last week’s game, at least in terms of attacking effort anyway, but playing on the road presents a different challenge and so they’ve got plenty of work left to do if they’re to make it through to the next round.

In the betting, it is the visitors who’re considered narrow favourites; however, this is a notion that’s fairly hard to accept. Yes, they were fractionally better in front of their own fans last week and yes, they come here with a narrow advantage but, with Skenderbeu being more than useful at home, this is still a very tough task. Quite frankly, the prices do not add up ahead of this one and, at odds of 37/20, the hosts are well worth backing to secure victory inside 90 minutes.

Much as they did in the away-leg of the previous round, Skenderbeu looked to put in a vintage European away display last week as they opted for a controlled approach, an approach that very nearly paid dividends when they equalised in the 86th minute. However, an excellent result very quickly became a slightly disappointing one as their opponents found a winner little more than 60 seconds later. But, as touched on above, all is certainly not lost for the Albanians. Their performance last week had it’s positives; for one, they controlled the entirety of the contest in terms of possession and should fancy themselves to offer more by way of attacking threat on their own turf.

In front of a home crowd, Skenderbeu have impressed in both of their matches in this competition so far. They were extremely comfortable winners against Sant Julia of Andorra a few weeks back while a 2-0 victory over a highly rated Kairat Almaty in the last round was also a very pleasing performance. In that home match against Kairat, the Albanians put in a commanding display, keeping a useful opponent at bay before punishing them twice at the other end. With this in mind, it’s easy to see Skenderbeu coming up with the goods here, especially given the frailties that Mlada have shown on the road in this competition already – conceded twice away at Irish side Shamrock Rovers in the last round.

As mentioned above, Mlada, who had the inconvenience of playing a domestic match at the weekend, one that they lost, struggled somewhat away from home in the previous round. They may have won 3-2 against Shamrock but they were far from convincing, particularly at the back. Such defensive frailties do not bode well ahead of this match, especially when Skenderbeu have done an excellent job of keeping their opponents quite when playing at home in this competition.

Not only have the Albanian outfit won both of their home Europa League matches in qualifying without conceding but they’re also unbeaten on their own patch (in all competitions) in 2017. In contrast, Mlada have won just three of their last seven on the road, keeping zero clean sheets during that time. Again, in contrast, Skenderbeu have kept four clean sheets in their last seven at home, as well as keeping nine clean sheets in 14 matches on home soil since the turn of the year.

All things considered, the prices simply don’t add up ahead of this one. Regardless of the result last week, Skenderbeu, who’re no mugs at home, really ought to be clear favourites ahead of this match and, therefore, at odds of 37/20, are worth getting behind to win the game.

More Europa League tips can be found here.