Conference League: Matchday One Betting Tips
Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne get their league phase campaigns in the Conference League underway on what promises to be a packed Thursday night of European football.
Rovers head to the Czech Republic to take on Sparta Prague, while Shels host Hacken at Tallaght Stadium rather than their usual Tolka Park home.
Sparta Prague Vs Shamrock Rovers
Tip: Sparta Prague to score over 2.5 goals @ 23/20
Sparta Prague and Shamrock Rovers have recent history, with the pair meeting in last season's Champions League qualifiers.
Sparta were comfortable 6-2 aggregate winners on that occasion and it’s tricky to see how the Hoops can close the gap.
The Czech league leaders crushed Stephen Bradley’s men 4-2 in the home leg of that tie in what was a thoroughly convincing success.
Sparta registered 82 per cent possession, 11 corners and eight shots on target against Rovers 12 months ago and Brian Priske’s men open their Conference League campaign on a run of 13 wins in 15 matches.
That sequence includes last Saturday’s 3-0 win at Banik Ostrava which came quickly on the heels of a 5-0 cup success at Slavia Karlovy Vary.
For their part, Shamrock are on a 10-game unbeaten run, but Bradley’s men haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last five matches and they take a major step up in class on their trip to Prague.
Sparta are 1/5 chances on the match betting market, but taking the home side to score over two goals looks an attractive 23/20 shot.
Shelbourne Vs Hacken
Tip: Over 3.5 goals in Shelbourne v Hacken @ 9/4
Shelbourne look to have chances of downing Hacken at Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght Stadium.
Shels crushed Linfield 5-1 on aggregate to qualify for the Conference League and Joey O'Brien’s men have won four of their last six matches.
However, Hacken’s form when beating Cluj 7-3 on aggregate in the qualifiers looks pretty strong and the Swedish side will carry plenty of attacking threat.
There have been 36 goals in the Wasps’ last eight games and they hit 17 shots and an expected goals figure of 2.97 in their latest 2-0 success over IFK Norrkoping.
Taking over 3.5 goals at Tallaght looks a value play.
Aberdeen Vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Tip: [Shakhtar to win to nil v Aberdeen @ 33/20](https://www.leovegas.com/en-row/betting#event/1024825399
It has been a pretty miserable start to the season for Aberdeen, who have taken only one point from their opening six Scottish Premiership games and sit at the bottom of the domestic standings.
The pressure is building on manager Jimmy Thelin and a Conference League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk is unlikely to prove a tonic for the Reds.
Shakhtar got past Besiktas in the early stages of the Europa League qualifiers and the Ukrainians were mighty unfortunate to lose in a penalty shootout to Panathinaikos in the following round.
Arda Turan’s men look a class above Aberdeen and they can put on a show at Pittodrie, scoring plenty of goals and keeping a clean sheet.