On Wednesday, August 7, from 19:15 pm on “Ljudski vrt”, Maribor will face Rosenborg in a match counting for the first leg of the third round of the Champions League.
Maribor qualified in this phase of the competition with a good chance by a goal scored by the former player of Poli Iasi, Alexandru Crețu, in the last minute of the prolongation of the duel in the return leg with AIK Stockolm.
After 2-1 on home soil, Maribor gave up with the same score the duel from Stockolm, the game going into overtime. AIK took the score to 3-1 but Crețu brought happiness to Maribor’s camp.
Rosenborg was also close to a match with overtime, but managed to avoid it. After giving up the tour on BATE’s ground by 2-1, Rosenborg prevailed in Norway with 2-0 thus ensuring their presence in this phase of the competition.
The two teams do not have a new domestic season too bright. Maribor started the domestic season timidly, being without victory after the first four rounds in which he recorded three draws and a defeat, a line that ranks 8th at six points away from leader Ljubljana.
On the other side Rosenborg is far from the form of the last seasons when he won his title in Norway in the last four championship editions. In the current season, Rosenborg is on a place with which his fans are not at all ordinary, respectively the 6th place, with 25 points, at a distance of 11 points from the leader Molde.
Probable teams Maribor- Rosenborg.
Maribor: Piric – Viler, Pericic, Ivkovic, Milec – Vrhovec, Crețu – Kotnik, Kronaveter, Hotic – Tavares
Coach: Darko Milanic
Rosenborg: Hansen – Meling, Hovland, Reginiussen, Hedenstad – Konradsen, Trondsen, Jensen – Adegbenro, Soderlund, Akintola
Coach: Eirik Horneland
Rosenborg is favored in qualifying and will certainly do his best to get in this away duel a result that will allow him to remain with the first chance of accessing the Champions League play-off. A goal scored by Rosenborg on Maribor’s ground would weigh heavily on the economy of this double-hitter, and the Norwegians have shown they have the strength to pose problems to any opponent.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / NO @ 1,63
