Champions League: Five insights for qualifying betting

Steaua Bucharest face a Stromsgodset side lacking Euro pedigree

Michael Lintorn offers a stat and a bet for each of Wednesday's Champions League second qualifying round first legs...

Dinamo Tbilisi are waging war on both-teams-to-score backers
Dinamo Tbilisi v FK Aktobe (Wednesday, 18:00)

Georgia's most famous football franchise are on a one-club mission to make both-team-to-score enthusiasts miserable. Whereas the results of their last seven Champions League home games have been scattergun - four wins, two losses and a draw - the one consistent theme was the presence of clean sheets, with both participants worming their way onto the scoresheet on only one occasion.

Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score? No @ 2.021/1

The Luxembourger champions have away goal-grabbing pedigree
Ludogorets v F91 Dudelange (Wednesday, 18:00)

Nobody would judge you for suspecting that Luxembourg's title holders would be out of their depth even at this stage of the competition and against Bulgarian counterparts, but their last Champions League qualifying adventure two years ago was their most successful yet. They cleared two rounds, including this one, and netted in five of their six matches, firing eight times in the three road trips.

Recommended Bet: Back Ludogorets not to keep a clean sheet @ 2.727/4

Malmo's Swedbank Stadion sheets are frequently spotless
Malmo FF v Ventspils (Wednesday, 18:00)

Malmo FF should have a special place in the hearts of all football fans (besides perhaps Derby's) for their role in three remarkable things: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's career, Nottingham Forest being European champions and Roy Hodgson managing England. The closest thing to a modern legacy is their skill of keeping clean sheets in home European qualifiers, obtaining five in their last six such contests.

Recommended Bet: Back Malmo FF to keep a clean sheet @ 1.674/6

The Norwegian rookies have a rotten European record
Stromsgodset v Steaua Bucharest (Wednesday, 18:30)

Stormsgodset have dipped their toe into continental waters just seven times and those expeditions produced few happy memories - the 20 combined outings delivering three victories, two draws and 15 defeats - so they should expect little ahead of their first Champions League tie in 43 years. Steaua Bucharest by contrast reached the group stage last term, winning two of their three away qualifiers.

Recommended Bet: Back Steaua Bucharest to win @ 2.6413/8

Legia Warsaw don't believe in first-half goals
Legia Warsaw v St Patrick's (Wednesday, 19:45)

Ekstraklasa behemoths Legia Warsaw competed in six Champions League preliminary matches last season, connecting ball with net eight times. However, only one of those strikes arrived in the first half, resulting in them suffering four half-time deficits. Impressively, they weren't beaten in any of those games, so the half-time St Patrick's lead, full-time Legia Warsaw triumph is an option at 34.033/1.

Recommended Bet: Back St Patrick's to lead at half time @ 13.012/1