Tuesday's Champions League predictions including Shamrock vs. Ludogorets

Larnaca vs. Midtjylland (Tuesday, 4.30pm)

After playing out a close-fought contest in the first-leg, AEK Larnaca will aim to use home advantage to get the better of FC Midtjylland in the second leg of their Champions League second-round qualifying tie.

The Danish side, meanwhile, will aim to end their winless start to the season by picking up a victory on Tuesday that would set up a tie against Portuguese giants Benfica.

We say: AEK Larnaca 1-0 FC Midtjylland

Although Midtjylland have the greater Champions League experience, they have failed to win any of their last six matches in the competition, and we think that Larnaca will utilise home advantage to advance to the third-round of qualifying.

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Maribor (Tuesday, 6.00pm)

Having failed to break down a dogged Maribor defence in the first leg of their Champions League second-round qualifying tie, Sheriff Tiraspol will seek to turn their fortunes around in Tuesday's second leg at the Zimbru Stadium.

Meanwhile, their Slovenian counterparts will aim to stun their revered opponents to set up a third-round tie with either HJK Helsinki or Viktoria Plzen.

We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 Maribor (Sheriff Tiraspol win 2-0 on aggregate)

Maribor may have marched to a confidence-boosting success at the weekend, but Karanovic has no natural replacement for injured captain Milec, and his side were exposed defensively on Saturday.

In contrast, Sheriff Tiraspol have far fewer injury concerns to work around and will hope to take advantage of Maribor's fatigue on home territory, so we can only back the Moldovan champions to advance and condemn Maribor to the Europa League.

Plzen vs. HJK Helsinki (Tuesday, 6.00pm)

After winning 2-1 in Finland last week, Viktoria Plzen will take a slender lead into the second leg of their Champions League second-round qualifying tie against HJK Helsinki.

The Finnish side are looking to avoid a fourth consecutive elimination in the second qualifying round, while Plzen are aiming to win at this stage of the competition for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

We say: Viktoria Plzen 3-1 HJK Helsinki

After putting in a fine away display in Finland last week, we think Plzen will utilise home advantage to claim a comfortable win on Tuesday that would set up a third qualifying round tie against Maribor or Sheriff Tiraspol.

Dudelange vs. Pyunik (Tuesday, 6.30pm)

F91 Dudelange will be looking to make the most of their first-leg advantage when they host FC Pyunik in the second leg of their second qualifying round contest in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The hosts will bring a slender lead into the second leg, with Samir Hadji's second-half penalty in Yerevan last week currently the difference between the two sides.

We say: F91 Dudelange 2-0 FC Pyunik

Pyunik have given themselves a mountain to climb in the second leg, and we are finding it very difficult to back them to turn the contest around. Dudelange have been impressive in the competition this season, and we are expecting them to win the second leg comfortably to progress to the third qualifying round.

Shamrock vs. Ludogorets (Tuesday, 8.00pm)

Shamrock Rovers have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their second qualifying round Champions League contest with Ludogorets Razgrad following a three-goal reverse last week.

Pieros Sotiriou scored twice before Igor Thiago netted a third for Ludogorets in the final exchanges, with the Bulgarian giants winning 3-0 in the first leg between the two sides on July 19.

We say: Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Ludogorets Razgrad

Shamrock will still believe that they are capable of turning the tie around, but it is very difficult to imagine that happening considering the strength of their opponent. The hosts might end up only playing for pride, but we are expecting Ludogorets to also win the second leg on Tuesday night.

Shkupi vs. Dinamo Zagreb (Tuesday, 8.00pm)

Shkupi will aim to prolong their first season in the Champions League when they meet Dinamo Zagreb in the second round of qualifying.

After the first leg finished 2-2, the Croatian champions are tasked with clinching victory in North Macedonia to progress in the competition.

We say: Shkupi 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb

Although they failed to close out the victory in the first leg, we still expect Dinamo Zagreb to have enough quality to squeeze past Shkupi on Tuesday.