Sheriff Tiraspol go welcome FC Utrecht this Thursday for the Nisporeni Stadium as both teams dey chase spot for UEFA Europa League.
This na the first leg of their qualification round, and the game dey important for both sides wey dey look to return or maintain their presence for European football this season.
Sheriff Tiraspol don already play competitive football this season and their form dey hot. For their domestic league, dem don collect 13 points from possible 15, and dem dey top the Super Liga table. For the first qualification round of the Europa League, dem beat Prishtina 5-2 on aggregate.
Although dem lose the second leg, that match no really mean much because dem don already win the first leg 4-0. The only loss wey Sheriff don suffer this season na that match, and dem never lose any home game since August 2024. That one go give dem plenty confidence as Utrecht dey come town.
Sheriff don make am into major UEFA competition three times in a row before dem miss out last season, so dem dey serious to return.
Under coach Victor Mihailov, dem don turn their home ground to fortress, and dem dey known to start games fast — dem don score first for six of their last seven matches. That early scoring pattern fit help dem again for this kind important match where tension go high.
FC Utrecht no play the first round of qualifiers — dem get bye enter the second round based on their UEFA coefficient. Last season, dem hustle well to enter this stage. Ron Jans and him boys manage to finish fourth for the Eredivisie table after strong finish for the last part of the season. Dem pick 15 points from their final eight games, and that performance help dem pass AZ Alkmaar for table.
But Utrecht no dey in the best form as dem enter this match. Their pre-season no go well — dem play five friendlies in 18 days and lose three of them, including the last two. That one fit affect their sharpness because this match go be their first competitive game since May when dem last play against Fortuna Sittard.
Dem never play for any European competition since 2011, so this tie go mean plenty to dem, and dem go like grab advantage before the second leg.
Team News
For team news, Utrecht go miss Rickson Van Hees and Rafik el Arguioui as both of them still dey recover from knee injuries. Zidane Iqbal never play since April and e still far from full fitness.
But players like Can Bozdogan, Miliano Jonathans and Siebe Horemans don return from injury, though e never clear whether dem fit start.
Cyrille Bayala dey hot for Sheriff with four goals in his last five matches, including hat-trick for the first round, and he go be key man again. Atila Guilherme Sales Freira wey rest last match go also return to the starting lineup.
Likely Lineups
The likely starting lineup for Sheriff Tiraspol na: Dyulgerov; Rai, Boakye, Magassouba; Serobyan, Ademo, Soumah, Bayala, Atila; Gjoni, Diarra.
For FC Utrecht, dem fit line up like this: Barkas; Finnsson, Van der Hoorn, El Karouani, Horemans; Zechiel, Viergever; Engwanda, Jensen, Blake; Min.
Our Prediction
Prediction wise, even though Sheriff Tiraspol dey enter the match with better form and more match sharpness, FC Utrecht get more experience and squad depth.
The game go tight, but we dey predict say Utrecht fit sneak small win with 2-1 scoreline, though Sheriff no go make am easy for dem.