Wednesday's Champions League predictions including Molde vs. Galatasaray

Maccabi Haifa vs. Young Boys (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

With only one round separating them from the Champions League group stage, the stakes will be high when Maccabi Haifa and Young Boys meet in the first leg of their playoff tie on Wednesday.

While the hosts - who made it through qualifying last season - started their campaign in the first round, their Swiss counterparts now enter Europe's top club competition.

We say: Maccabi Haifa 2-2 Young Boys

Both sides possess plenty of firepower and will be keen to establish a first-leg lead, so several goals could be shared in Haifa. The two teams seem well matched in many respects, so it may all come down to who holds their nerve in next week's decider.

Braga vs. Panathinaikos (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Having progressed to the final round of Champions League qualifying in differing circumstances, Braga and Panathinaikos commence their two-legged playoff battle at Estadio Municipal on Wednesday night.

The hosts thrashed Backa Topola 7-1 on aggregate in the penultimate preliminary stage, while their Greek foes eliminated former winners Marseille on penalties in the third round.

We say: Braga 2-1 Panathinaikos

One or two Marseille fans may have learned the hard way about underestimating Panathinaikos, whose week's worth of rest should do them the world of good against Jorge's goal-happy Braga.

The hosts' mettle will be put to the test far more than it was against Backa Topola, but their attacking firepower will likely be too hot for Panathinaikos to handle, and the Archbishops ought to head to Athens for next week's second leg defending a slender advantage.

Molde vs. Galatasaray (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Having crushed the KI Klaksvik Champions League dream earlier this month, Molde face a step-up in quality when they meet Turkish champions Galatasaray in the first leg of their qualifying playoff round tie on Wednesday.

Erling Moe's men overcame KI 3-2 on aggregate to progress to the final hurdle, while the visitors to Aker Stadion put four past Olimpija Ljubljana without reply over two legs.

We say: Molde 0-3 Galatasaray

Molde may possess the formula for success at home domestically, but their defensive nous is unlikely to count for much against a Galatasaray side who know a thing or two about shutting out the opposition themselves.

Even with Torreira on the naughty step and concerns lingering over Zaha's availability, Buruk's squad of esteemed international stars should stroll to a first-leg win with minimal fuss.