Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker:
Two sides who will be getting their Champions League qualifying adventure underway on Wednesday evening, The New Saints will travel to Sweden in midweek when they meet Hacken.
Hacken
Starting with the hosts, making a welcomed return to winning ways last week as they secured a lively 2-1 victory away at AIK, Hacken certainly find themselves tipped as a runaway pick when they open their Champions League qualifying campaign in midweek. While the Wasps might find themselves fighting a real uphill battle in their bid to defend their Swedish crown in 2023, Per-Mathias Hogmo s men should find the mood in their camp at a continued high. Still sat in pole position to claim another lucrative top-three finish this season, the Gothenburg-based outfit have collected 13 points from their previous five Allsvenskan appearances and they have certainly found a real clinical edge in the final third. On a run that is highlighted by a 4-1 romp at home against IFK prior to June’s international break, Hacken have notched 13 strikes on their five-match domestic unbeaten flurry.
Team News
Attracting major interest from the likes of Rangers and Sheffield United this summer, Hacken are hopeful that attacking talisman Benie Traore will be able to spearhead their Champions League charge in midweek.
In what looks set to be a major boost for the Swedish champions on Wednesday night, Hogmo has announced that the duo of Uddenas Oscar and Tobias Sana will make a full return here after recovering from respective injury issues.
The New Saints
As for the visitors, while The New Saints might have cruised their way to yet another domestic crown last season, the Welsh giants have struggled to find any kind of stability during their summer run. Signing off their pre-season preparations with a routine 3-1 loss at the hands of Cardiff earlier in the month, TNS have lost each of their last three straight friendly showdowns and they have certainly failed to pick up any crucial momentum. With their summer blip highlighted by a 2-0 defeat against Northern Irish outfit Linfield last month, Craig Harrison will be more than aware that his squad faces a huge challenge on Wednesday evening. Tipped as a landslide underdog when they travel out to Sweden in midweek, The New Saints also hold a downbeat Champions League record on foreign soil. Including a 5-0 drumming against Shkendija back in 2018, TNS have lost four of their previous five European battles on the road.
Team News
In the midst of what has become a real free-scoring purple patch and now notching 14 goals in his previous eight appearances across all competitions, attacking talisman Declan McManus will certainly spearhead TNS’ charge on Wednesday evening.
Harrison has reported a clean bill of health as his side travel out to Sweden in midweek. One-time Middlesbrough youngster Ryan Robbel should partner McManus in the final third.
Key Factors to Consider
