Sheriff vs Torpedo Kutaisi Match Preview and Predictions

Sheriff vs Torpedo Kutaisi
UEFA Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 18 July 2018
Kick-Off at 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET
Venue: Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena, Tiraspol.

Torpedo Kutaisi stunned Sheriff by completing a comeback to win the first leg clash 2-1 on the Georgian soil. Even though the Moldovans entered the tie as massive favourites to advance, the Georgian champions showed an amazing fighting spirit to come back from behind to gain advantage ahead of the rematch at Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena in Tiraspol.

Sheriff are obviously still much closer to progress from this particular tie given the overall gulf in quality and experience between the two sides. The hosts have seen a huge progression by making decent breakthroughs on the continental scene over the last couple of years. They were stopped by Azerbaijani champions Qarabag in the previous tern of UEFA Champions League qualifications, but only to enjoy a decent campaign in the Europa League group phased where they came third against the likes of Lokomotiv Moscow, Copenhagen and Zlin.

Sheriff vs Torpedo Kutaisi: Head-to-head

The match played eight days ago in Kutaisi was the first ever head to head encounter between the two teams.

Sheriff seemed to be in full control when Ziguy Badibanga pushed them in front just 14 minutes into the game.

Nevertheless, Torpedo never gave up as Giorgi Kimadze and Giorgi Kukhianidze completed the comeback to help the team win in the first Champions League game since 2002.

Sheriff vs Torpedo Kutaisi: Prediction

Torpedo Kutaisi can hardly be regarded as a match to this Sheriff squad in spite of the victory in the first leg. Anything but a comprehensive win for Sheriff would be a massive surprise here. We expect the hosts to go strong from the very first whistle, looking for the early breakthrough. The value is thus certainly in the HT/FT Sheriff/Sheriff bet at the odds of 1.83.

You can obviously also back the hosts to win by two or more goals difference as well at the odds of 2.00. Apart from the huge difference in quality between these two sides, we also have to mention that the visitors are struggling with the form in this term of Georgian Erovnuli Liga where they only sit fifth after 18 rounds of the competition. Sheriff are three points clear at the top of the Moldovan Divizia Nationala after 14 rounds.