Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
FK Panevezys
HJK
In the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, a match between Lithuanian side Panevėžys and Finnish club HJK will take place. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 9th, in Lithuania, with kickoff set for 17:30 Central European Time. Experts from Dailysports have provided their predictions for this match.
Panevėžys
Panevėžys enters the Champions League qualifiers as the reigning champions of Lithuania. The team won the last championship with a significant lead, but they have completely failed at the start of the current season.
In the Lithuanian A-League standings, the team is in the penultimate place, with most of the season already behind them. It is hard to believe that the reigning champion will be relegated from the elite, but there is no talk of qualifying for European competitions next season.
HJK
HJK has been consistently dominant in domestic competitions recently. The team has won the last four Finnish championship titles and looks quite confident this season as well.
HJK is racing towards another championship, leading the Veikkausliiga table after 15 matches. Notably, the team has scored 18 goals in their last six games.
Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head
- Panevėžys lost their last two matches with the same score of 0-1.
- HJK has not lost in regular time in their last six matches.
- The teams have never met before.
Panevėžys vs HJK Prediction
Given the current form of the home side, it is doubtful they can compete for a place in the next round. HJK should secure an advantage before the home leg, so I predict a victory for the visitors.
