Europa League
2025-07-31 - Utrecht vs Sheriff Tiraspol
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round Second Leg
Thursday 31st July 2025 - Kick Off 7pm
Preview
There is clearly a lot more European experience held by Sheriff Tiraspol compared with Utrecht, especially in recent seasons, but the latter are a club playing out of Netherlands and that had them down as favourites to reach the Europa League Third Qualifying Round. The 3-1 lead from the First Leg has only strengthened the position of Utrecht with the Second Leg being hosted by them, but the staff and players will not want to offer Sheriff Tiraspol any encouragement about a potential fightback.
It was not a First Leg in which Utrecht had been clearly superior to Sheriff Tiraspol, but they were much more clinical in the final third and showed character to recover from conceding the first goal.
All of the pressure is on Sheriff Tiraspol to find a way back into the tie, but the home team have to be a little wary. The lack of experience may have some of the players feeling like they have broken the back of the tie following the win last week, but conceding first again will certainly ramp up the tension and that is something Utrecht will want to avoid.
Unlike Sheriff Tiraspol, Utrecht have yet to begin their domestic campaign and that can be a factor in these early Qualifying Round ties.
In saying that, Sheriff Tiraspol have not won any of their last 4 games in all competitions and they have suffered 3 defeats in that run. Despite the experiences of playing these early Rounds in recent years, the Moldovan team will be travelling across Europe knowing they have been beaten in 6 of their last 7 away UEFA ties played.
Utrecht last played in any European competition in the 2019/20 season, but they did end the last Dutch campaign with 4 wins in 6 home games played to conclude the season. It has been a while since last hosting any UEFA fixture, but Utrecht do have an 11 game home unbeaten run to protect and the game state means they do not have to take too many unnecessary risks.
This is the first time these clubs will meet in a competitive fixture hosted by Utrecht.
Prediction
Having a two goal lead should make things relatively comfortable for Utrecht, but the team may have to just keep things calm through the first 45 minutes.
Eventually the visitors may have to take chances and that is where Utrecht could punish Sheriff Tiraspol.
For all of their experiences in playing in European Football, Sheriff Tiraspol have continued to struggle away from home having lost 6 of their last 7 on their travels. Pushing forward could leave them exposed and vulnerable in this one and Utrecht can secure another win by a couple of goals, albeit one that is much more convincing than the First Leg in terms of overall performance.
The Pick :
Utrecht 3-1 Sheriff Tiraspol
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Utrecht - 1.5 Asian Handicap at 1.97 with Bet365
