HJK Helsinki vs Panevezys Prediction 16.07.2024 | Champions League

• Competition: UEFA Champions League Qualifying - First Round 2nd Leg
• Date: Tuesday, 16th, July 2024
• Kickoff: 17:00 UK / 18:00 CEST
• Venue: Bolt Arena (Helsinki)

HJK Helsinki will aim to stage one of the greatest comebacks in history as they host Panevezys at Bolt Arena in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers on Tuesday.

The Finnish giants have had a tough time in recent weeks, with their troubles starting in late June when they suffered a shocking elimination in the last-16 round of the Suomen Cup by relegation-threatened Ekanas. The start of July was nothing short of disastrous for HJK Helsinki, who saw their quest to defend the Veikkausliiga title disrupted, as they suffered a three-goal thrashing at the hands of Ilves away from home, leaving them level on points with table-toppers KuPS but having played one game more.

Panevezys, meanwhile, shook up the Lithuanian top-flight football championship last season by cruising to their first-ever title in their brief nine-year history, leaving their closest challenger Zalgiris trailing by 12 points. While they are excited about their first-ever entry on the European stage on one hand, on the other, the Old River Bed are experiencing a disastrous domestic campaign, having already bid farewell to defending their crown, as they sit in the relegation playoff spot with a massive 28-point gap behind the league leaders.

HJK Helsinki vs Panevezys Betting Tips: AH1 (-1.5)

In addition to their disappointing displays domestically of late, HJK Helsinki deepened their crisis by starting their European campaign in a nigthmarish fashion, succumbing to a shocking 0-3 loss against debutants Panevezys in the opening leg. The devastation they faced on Lithuanian soil compels the Finnish giant to adopt an aggresive stance from the first sound of the referee's whistle, aiming to engineer one of the greatest comebacks in history to prolong their stay in Europe's most elite club competition. 

Yes, Klubi faces a daunting mountain to climb in Tuesday's second leg, but they will draw courage from the fact that they have reached at least the second round of the Champions League qualifiers in each of their last seven campaigns. Despite heading to Finland with a commanding three-goal lead, Panevezys won't rest on their laurels, especially since they have been poor travelers of late, coming away empty-handed and conceding 2+ goals in four of their last five visits across any category. Should they find an early goal in the opening stage of the match, HJK Helsinki could be  contemplating a scenario that would be a memorable revival.