Wednesday's Champions League predictions including Bodo/Glimt vs. Klaksvik

Tobol vs. Ferencvaros (Wednesday, 3.00pm)

Ferencvaros will make the trip to Kazakhstan on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round contest with Tobol.

The visitors are the reigning Hungarian champions, while Tobol won just their second Kazakhstan Premier League title last year to secure their spot in the first qualifying round of this competition.

We say: Tobol 1-2 Ferencvaros

Tobol are certainly capable of making this an uncomfortable first leg for Ferencvaros, but we are finding it difficult to back against the Hungarian outfit, who should be able to claim an advantage ahead of the return fixture on July 13.

HJK Helsinki vs. RFS (Wednesday, 5.00pm)

Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki will welcome Latvian side Rigas Futbola Skola to Helsinki on Wednesday for the first leg of their first qualifying round contest in the Champions League.

The home side lifted their 31st Veikkausliiga title last term, while RFS won last year's Lavian Higher League to secure their spot in the Champions League first qualifying round.

We say: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Rigas Futbola Skola

We are expecting Wednesday's contest to be a tight affair, and the fact that Rigas have had longer to recover could play a part in the final result. That said, we are tipping Helsinki to triumph on the night and also expect them to have too much quality over the two legs.

Bodo/Glimt vs. KI (Wednesday, 5.00pm)

Bodo/Glimt and KI Klaksvik will lock horns on Wednesday evening in the first leg of their first qualifying round contest in the Champions League.

Both sides will be looking to claim an advantage ahead of the return fixture in the Faroe Islands next week, with a position in the second qualifying round on offer for the two teams.

We say: Bodo/Glimt 2-0 KI Klaksvik

Bodo/Glimt impressed in the Europa Conference League last season and will be expecting to progress to the next qualifying round. KI should not be underestimated, but we are expecting the home side to record a comfortable victory in the first leg on Wednesday night.

Dudelange vs. KF Tirana (Wednesday, 6.30pm)

F91 Dudelange will welcome KF Tirana to Luxembourg on Wednesday evening for the first leg of their first qualifying round contest in the Champions League.

The hosts are the reigning champions of the Luxembourg National Division, while Tirana won their 26th top-flight Albanian league title last term.

We say: F91 Dudelange 1-2 KF Tirana

Tirana will be the favourites to progress from this two-legged affair, and the visitors will be expecting to claim an advantage on Wednesday. Dudelange have enough quality to score, but we are backing a 2-1 victory for the Albanian outfit.

Zrinjski Mostar vs. Sheriff Tiraspol (Wednesday, 7.00pm)

Last season's Champions League surprise package Sheriff Tiraspol begin their quest to make the group stage of this year's tournament with the first leg of their first-round Qualifying battle with Bosnian champions Zrinjski Mostar on Wednesday evening.

Either Maribor or Shakhtyor Soligorsk will await the victors of this first-round contest in the next stage, and the visitors are out to produce more shocks on the continental stage.

We say: Zrinjski Mostar 0-2 Sheriff Tiraspol

Whether Sheriff can make lightning strike twice to reach the Champions League proper remains to be seen, but Tomas's side will expect to get off to a bright start in the qualification rounds here.

Even without Vernydub in charge and the ever-impressive Thill dictating play from the middle, the Moldovan champions should break Zrinjski's resistance with relative ease.

Maribor vs. Soligorsk (Wednesday, 7.15pm)

The champions of Slovenia and Belarus will kick off their Champions League qualification bids on Wednesday, as Maribor play host to Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the first leg of their first-round battle.

Either Zrinjski or Sheriff Tiraspol will await the victors in round two, while the losers will drop into the third round of Europa Conference League Qualifying.

We say: Maribor 2-1 Shakhtyor Soligorsk

Shakhtyor have already tasted competitive action this summer, which could certainly work in their favour against a Maribor side who flattered to deceive in the pre-season period.

The hosts' European pedigree certainly outweighs that of Tashuev's side, who have been far from perfect in the 2022 Belarusian top flight so far, and we have faith in Maribor to travel to Soligorsk with a slender lead in tow.

Slovan Bratislava vs. Dinamo Batumi (Wednesday, 7.30pm)

Slovan Bratislava and Dinamo Batumi begin their respective Champions League campaigns with Wednesday's Qualifying first-round first leg tie at Tehelne pole.

Either Tobol of Ferencvaros will await the winners of the tie in the second round, while the losers will be forced to battle for their right to play in the Europa Conference League.

We say: Slovan Bratislava 1-1 Dinamo Batumi

Slovan Bratislava may have the edge in terms of continental experience and recognisable faces, but take nothing away from Dinamo Batumi's remarkable success story, and the visitors will travel to Slovakia feeling capable of going toe-to-toe with their hosts.

Wednesday's game will prove to be a trickier affair than what the Georgian champions are used to back home, but we can envisage a low-scoring draw on the cards, with Bratislava hardly laying down a marker in pre-season.