Tuesday's Champions League predictions including PSV vs. Sturm Graz

Copenhagen vs. Sparta Prague (Tuesday, 7.00pm)

Aiming to take another step towards a spot in the Champions League group stages, Copenhagen and Sparta Prague lock horns in the first leg of their third-round qualifying tie on Tuesday evening.

The Danish powerhouses thumped Breidablik 8-3 on aggregate to breeze through the second round, while their Czech counterparts begin their latest continental quest at this stage.

We say: Copenhagen 3-1 Sparta Prague

Developing a taste for goals in the embryonic stages of the campaign, Copenhagen's scintillating attacking play should make up for any defensive shortcomings that may arise in the Danish capital this week.

Despite their lack of top-level European experience in recent years, Sparta Prague should prove a sterner test than Breidablik, but we can only envisage Copenhagen travelling to Czechia for the return leg with a healthy advantage.

Rakow vs. Aris Limassol (Tuesday, 7.00pm)

Rakow Czestochowa will be bidding to claim a first-leg advantage when they welcome Aris Limassol for the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round contest on Tuesday night.

The home side dispatched Qarabag in the last stage of the competition, while Limassol thumped BATE Borisov 11-5 on aggregate to book their spot in the third qualifying round.

We say: Rakow Czestochowa 1-1 Aris Limassol

This two-legged affair should be very tight, and we are expecting a close match on Tuesday. Rakow will be bidding to claim an advantage on home soil, but Limassol will enter the game full of confidence, and we are backing a low-scoring draw in the first leg.

PSV vs. Sturm Graz (Tuesday, 7.30pm)

Fresh from commencing their 2023-24 season with a Dutch Super Cup success, PSV Eindhoven host Austrian giants Sturm Graz in the first leg of their third-round Champions League qualifying tie on Tuesday at the Philips Stadion.

Both teams finished second in their domestic leagues last term, although the visitors' continental nous pales in comparison to PSV's prior European experience.

We say: PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Sturm Graz

Even with a noticeably thin squad and a couple of defensive absentees, a PSV side on cloud nine from their Super Cup triumph should still make light work of Sturm Graz on their own turf, as was the case in the Europa League two seasons ago.

It remains to be seen how the Simons-less Lightbulbs will fare under Bosz in the long run, and they will not score for fun on Tuesday, but the visitors' youthful crop surely lack the necessary continental experience to trouble the hosts' backline.

AEK Athens vs. Dinamo Zagreb (Tuesday, 7.45pm)

AEK Athens will be aiming to claim a first-leg advantage when they welcome Dinamo Zagreb to Greece in the third qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The home side are yet to officially begin their 2023-24 campaign, but Dinamo have already had to overcome Astana to advance to the third qualifying round of this season's European Cup.

We say: AEK Athens 1-1 Dinamo Zagreb

AEK Athens will be aware of the importance of claiming a strong result ahead of the return fixture in Croatia, and we are expecting a tight game on Tuesday night. The hosts have a lot of quality in the final third of the field, and we are backing them to take a relatively positive result into the second leg of the contest.

AEK Athens vs. Dinamo Zagreb (Tuesday, 7.45pm)

AEK Athens will be aiming to claim a first-leg advantage when they welcome Dinamo Zagreb to Greece in the third qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The home side are yet to officially begin their 2023-24 campaign, but Dinamo have already had to overcome Astana to advance to the third qualifying round of this season's European Cup.

We say: AEK Athens 1-1 Dinamo Zagreb

AEK Athens will be aware of the importance of claiming a strong result ahead of the return fixture in Croatia, and we are expecting a tight game on Tuesday night. The hosts have a lot of quality in the final third of the field, and we are backing them to take a relatively positive result into the second leg of the contest.

KI vs. Molde (Tuesday, 7.45pm)

Already guaranteed a place in one of Europe's three continental tournaments, Faroe Islands trailblazers KI Klaksvik continue their Champions League adventure when they host Molde in the first leg of their third-round qualifying tie on Tuesday night.

The hosts defeated Swedish outfit Hacken in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach this stage for the first time ever, while their Norwegian counterparts recovered from a first-leg deficit to eliminate HJK Helsinki.

We say: KI Klaksvik 0-2 Molde

While KI have not found the formula for attacking success at home in the Champions League thus far, they have more than made up for it with rearguard resilience before packing their best shooting boots for the second leg.

Molde may therefore need to have their wits about them at the Aker Stadion next week - especially with Klettskard returning to full fitness - but they should still put a dent in KI's European aspirations with a couple of goals in Torshavn.

Braga vs. Backa Topola (Tuesday, 8.00pm)

The third qualifying round in the UEFA Champions League will see Braga play host to Backa Topola, with the first-leg encounter taking place on Tuesday evening.

Braga ended last season in third place in the Primeira Liga table, while Backa Topola came second in the Serbian Super Liga, and both sides will be making their first appearance at these qualifiers in this round.

We say: Braga 3-1 Backa Topola

The hosts come into the match as huge favourites and have arguably got the best draw of the round against the tournament debutants. We fancy Braga to secure a commanding lead in this first-leg encounter, though we also expect the visitors to get on the scoresheet.

Ljubljana vs. Galatasaray (Tuesday, 8.00pm)

In the UEFA Champions League third round of qualifying, Slovenian representatives NK Olimpija Ljubljana will welcome Galatasaray to Stadion Stozice for a first-leg encounter on Tuesday evening.

The hosts earned their place in this round by recording a 3-2 aggregate win over Ludogrets in round two of qualifying, while the visitors managed to overcome Zalgiris by the same aggregate scoreline.

We say: NK Olimpija Ljubljana 1-1 Galatasaray

Based on their recent form and performances in the previous round, there is very little to choose between these sides despite Galatasaray being the out-and-out favourites to win the match. We fancy the Turkish side to qualify for the playoffs but feel that they will need to secure that win back at home with this one ending level.