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Recommended bets
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Match preview
Can FC Sheriff Tiraspol claim their first ever victory in the knockout phase?
Last season, the Yellow-Blacks made their Champions League debut, famously beating Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, thanks to Sébastien Thill’s stunning stoppage time volley.
By finishing third in that group, FC Sheriff dropped into the Europa League, where they were ousted by Braga on penalties.
This season, the Divizia Națională champions were eliminated from Champions League qualifying by Viktoria Plzeň, so had to settle for a spot in the Europa League.
Once there, Roberto Bordin’s team lost home and away against Manchester United and Real Sociedad, but a pair of wins over Omonia ensured their continental adventure would not end there.
Sheriff are still banned from playing home matches in Transnistria, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with this match taking place behind-closed-doors in Chișinău.
Partizan Belgrade meanwhile were European Cup runners-up 57 years ago, beaten by Real Madrid, reaching a solitary quarter-final in any UEFA tournament subsequently.
The Black-Whites did get to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League 12 months ago, overcoming Sparta Prague before defeat to Feyenoord.
This time round, Gordan Petrić’s team came second in their group again, one point above Köln, thanks mainly to two victories over the German club.
In fact, Partizan’s only European defeat in their last nine came against Nice at Allianz Riviera in late-October.
The Serbian side are the favourites to get through this tie, so will they leave Zimbru Stadium in the catbird seat?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol team news
Of the XI that beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in September 2021, none are still at the club, highlighting the turnover Sheriff expirence every season.
Goals could be a problem, given that they’ve scored just eight in 14 European matches this season.
Winger Rasheed Akanbi is suspended for the first leg, due to yellow card accumulation, while Abou Ouattara is injured.
Partizan Belgrade team news
Captain Slobodan Urošević can’t play, having been booked three times during the group phase.
Ricardo Gomes is the danger man, having scored 19 goals during this campaign and 15 in UEFA competition since the start of last season.
FC Sheriff Tiraspol vs Partizan Belgrade: Head to head statistics
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