Noah will be looking to maintain their recent rise in European football when they host Buducnost in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers . The Armenians will be banking on their solid home form against the visitors, who generally fall at this stage.
Noah made it to the main draw of a European competition last season when they reached the league phase of the UEFA Conference League. They picked up one win from their six matches and failed to progress to the knockout stage.
The reigning Armenian champions will look to build on that experience and use it to push beyond this stage of the Champions League. Sandro Perkovic’s men are usually solid at home and have won their last nine matches across all competitions at home while also picking up a 2-1 victory over Dun Streda in a preseason friendly.
Buducnost have never reached the main draw of any European competition and failed to make it beyond the qualifying rounds of the Conference League last season. They come into this clash as the champions of the Montenegrin First League having won their seventh title last season.
Nenad Lalatovic’s men have not been in good form in the build up to the qualifiers, picking up two wins and suffering three defeats in the last five matches across all competitions. They were beaten 3-0 by Slaven Belupo in a preseason friendly last month.
How the bookies view it: Noah highly fancied
Noah have been installed as overwhelming favourites among the bookies and are priced at 3/10 by BoyleSports to claim the win. An unlikely victory for Buducnost is valued at 7/1 while a draw is set at odds of 15/4.
Head to head: First ever meeting
There are no previous matches between Noah and Buducnost.
Players to watch: Attacks to shine
Goncalo Gregorio was the standout player for Noah last season, scoring 20 League goals. Eraldo Cinari also had 14 goals last season and both men can combine to produce over 1.5 goals for the hosts (Noah over 1.5 goals – 2/5 with BoyleSports).
Noah can also hold their own going forward and will look to Ivan Bojovic, who scored 13 league goals last season. Ivan Bulatovic also netted 12 times last term and both men can help the visitors produce over 0.5 goals – available at 3/4.
Probable line-ups:
Noah are likely to stick to much of the players that won the friendly against Dun Streda, with Gregorio expected to feature in attack. Midfielder Artak Dashyan was a second half substitute and could be handed a start while Sergey Muradyan should start in defence.
Buducnost have no injuries or suspensions and are likely to go with the twin threat of Bulatovic and Bojovic. Dragan Grivic and Ilia Serikov are expected to feature at the back.
Noah: Cancarevic, Thorarinsson, Muradyan, Silva, Hambardzumyan, Artak, Sangare, Gambos, Cinari, Manvelyan, Gregorio
Buducnost: Mijatovic, Grivic, Orahovac, Serikov, Vukovic, Plasevic, Bulatovic, Bojovic, Milickovic, Ivanovic, Kostic
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams have scored in five of Noah’s last seven matches (BTTS YES – 20/21 with BoyleSports). Those five fixtures have also produced over 2.5 goals – available at 8/13.
Noah have scored in both halves in three of their last five matches (Noah to score in both halves priced at 21/20). With the hosts priced at minimal odds for a straight victory, a win and over 2.5 goals offers more value at 20/21.
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