Read our prediction for Ilves vs Slavia Sofia below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Ilves vs Slavia Sofia and you can increase your winnings!
Ilves vs Slavia Sofia Prediction & Betting tips
Ilves and Slavia Sofia face each other at Sonera Stadium, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Europa League (1st Qualifying Round). These two teams have never faced each other before, so this will be their first direct confrontation. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since both teams present considerable differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.
Ilves:
The home team plays its first match in this edition of the UEFA Europa League with the intention of taking advantage of the home advantage to achieve a positive result. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses in away matches, with 14 goals scored and 21 conceded; against 8 wins, 6 draws and 1 loss at their stadium, with 20 goals scored and 11 conceded. In the last match they played, for Veikkausliiga, they lost with RoPS Rovaniemi away by (2-0). In the last 10 home matches Ilves has a record of 4 wins and 6 draws. In 15 games, they only got 1 comeback in the 5 games in which they suffered the first goal.
The Finns of the Ilves reach this stage of the Europa League after having won the third position of the national championship of 2017, however, we emphasize that a presence in this type of eliminatory is out of the ordinary for this team. It is important to note that the locals do not cross a moment in a very positive way, since they add only 3 wins in the last 10 matches played. In this home game, coach Jarkko Wiss will have to maintain the usual 4-2-3-1, with Marius Noubissi being the most offensive reference of the team: this player is the great highlight of Ilves, with 6 goals scored in the current Finnish championship. For this game the local coach can not count on the injured Baba Mensah.
Slavia Sofia:
The visiting team will make its debut in this edition of the UEFA Europa League with the intention of conquering a positive result, taking advantage of the home factor. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 2 draws and 9 losses in away matches, with 18 goals scored and 28 conceded; against 6 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses at their stadium, with 23 goals scored and 17 suffered. The team comes to this match after an away defeat with Ludogorets by (1-0). In the last 10 away matches Slavia SofĂa has won 3, tied 2 and lost 5. Defensive consistency has not been their best feature, as they have conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored regularly, since he scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches.
Slavia Sofia starts for this 1st round of the Europa League as a result of the conquest of the Bulgarian Cup. We remember that the visitors have already played an official match this season, the supercopa, however, they were defeated by the Ludogorets, by 1-0. In this first game against Ilves, coach Zlatomir Zagorcic will have to play with a strategy based on counterattack, exploring in the best way the space in the back of the opponent’s defense. Captain Martinov is the most important player of this Slavia Sofia, being fundamental in the defensive balance of the team. Everything indicates that the coach has all the staff at his disposal.