The third qualifying round features 30 teams and 15 match-ups. Of these, 5 match-ups are designated the 'league route' (for teams that did not win their domestic crown, but whose leagues are deemed strong enough by UEFA to warrant an opportunity to play in the Champions League) and the remaining 10 the 'champions route' (for teams that won their domestic league). The 15 teams that come away from this round have one more bout of qualifying before the grand competition.
League Route Match-ups (team on left plays the first leg at home)
Standard Liege Vs. FC Zurich (1)
Standard Liege is here by means of being the runner-up in the Belgian league. The last time they qualified was in 2009, where they were on the unfortunate end of some poor refereeing decisions against Arsenal in a 3-2 loss in the group stage; which ultimately doomed them. Their opponent is FC Zurich who finished second in the Swiss super-league. Last year they were in one of the toughest groups in the competition with Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Marseille.
What the odds makers say: Standard the favorite at 1.83 (meaning if you put $100 on Standard, you would win $183, where as the odds on Zurich are a staggering 3.75! $100 to win $375)
My prediction: FC Zurich. I think that they have more quality than they showed last year, and will look to prove it this time around.
Twente Vs. Vaslui (2)
Twente qualified for the competition for the first time last year, and will look to do so again this year. Although last time around they gained an automatic berth by winning the Dutch Eredivisie, this time their path is a bit tougher, having finished second. Their opponent is Vaslui from Romania (Full disclosure: I had no idea who they were until I looked them up) Apparently they finished third in the Romanian league, so I doubt any one will fancy their chances against a strong Twente team.
What the odds makers say: Twente the favorite at 1.32
My prediction: Twente easily dispatches this Romanian team and moves on.
Benfica Vs. Trabzonspor (3)
An intriguing match-up between the second best team in Portugal and the second best team from Turkey (if you cannot guess where they are from by looking at their names I don't know what to tell you). In my opinion this is the closest match-up in terms of how good both teams are compared to one another. The winners here are the neutral fans who should be in for some good games between these teams.
What the odds makers say: Benfica 1.38
My prediction: A penalty shoot-out after two matches sees Benfica advance, but it could really go either way.
Dynamo Kyiv Vs. Rubin Kazan (4)
The second best team from the Ukraine (Kyiv) against the second best team from Russia (Kazan). Given the dislike the two countries have of each other this should at least be a feisty affair. Rubin Kazan has been very successful in terms of qualifying for the Champions League recently, having done so two years running. Kyiv was last in the competition in 2009 so both squads have what it takes.
What the odds makers say: Kyiv favored at 1.70
My prediction: Rubin Kazan, with the second match being a thriller.
Odense Vs. Panathinaikos (5)
The best part about writing this preview? I get to learn a lot about teams I otherwise would never have cared about, like Odense. Did you know that Odense were runners up in the Danish league? For 3 straight years? It seems like they are the little brother that just cant break through. How am I supposed to pick them here? The worst part about writing this preview? Having to spell Panathinaikos, and other names that anyone not from Greece (where P-a-n-a-t-h-i-n-a-i-k-o-s is form) would think that it is some sort of mountain with weird spelling. On to the actual match-up, I'm picking the Greek team (no way i am typing that again) because that country really needs something good to happen to it. They have so much debt that the U.S. feels bad for them at this point.
What the odds makers say: They have no idea, the lowest odds here are 2.25 to Odense
My prediction: Panathinaikos (damn it)
Champions Route Match-ups
Most of these are going to be quick picks, partly because these teams are less-known, and partly because I want to put this post up before the games start. The rate I am going at, this will be up by Christmas.
Litex Lovech Vs. Wisla Krakow (6)
odds makers say: Litex 2.20
I say: Wisla Krakow
Maccabi Haifa Vs. Maribor (7)
I asked my grandpa about this match-up, his response: "I hate Maribor, they've screwed me out of a winning ticket at least six times!" Well then.
odds makers say: Maccabi at 1.40
My prediction. Maccabi
HJK Helinski Vs. Dinamo Zagreb (8)
Odds makers say: Dinamo 2.40
My prediction: Dinamo Zagreb, only because it opens up the possibility of them and Partizan Belgrade meeting in a later round. If this happened, I think UEFA would sanction both matches to be played in a prison.
APOEL Vs. Slovan Bratislava (9)
Odds makers say: APOEL 1.55
My prediction: APOEL
Copenhagen Vs. Shamrock Rovers (10)
Odds makers say: 1.12 for Copenhagen
My prediction: It kills me not to pick a team with a name like Shamrock Rovers, but I take Copenhagen in this one.
Genk Vs. Partizan Belgrade (11)
I went out this morning to buy some groceries, the street was riddled with Partizan jerseys, this place is fired up! Hopefully Partizan delivers
Odds makers say: Genk the favorite at 1.72, Partizan at 3.90
My prediction: Partizan in penalties.
Rosenborg Vs. Viktoria Plzeri (12)
One sounds like cheap wine, the other like a cheap hooker.
Odds makers say: Rosenborg 2.05
My prediction: Rosenborg
Zestafoni Vs. Strum Graz (13)
Odds makers say: Strum 2.32 (this is essentially a toss up)
My prediction: Strum
Ekranas Vs. BATE Borisov (14)
Odds makers say: BATE 1.60
My prediction: BATE
Rangers Vs. Malmo FF (15)
Odds makers say: Rangers at 1.40, they give Malmo very little chance with a 7.70!
My prediction: Rangers
Will I be betting on these games? Absolutely. Will I win? Probably not. What I do know is that I will have fun sitting at a random bar tonight, watching a huge projection of Partizan Vs. Genk and enjoying the first interesting phase of Europe's premier soccer competition.
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