NK Maribor and Shakhtyor Soligorsk will open their Champions League qualification campaign when they lock horns at the Ljudski vrt Stadium on Wednesday night.
The two sides won their domestic league titles to book a place in the first round of the Champions League Qualifiers, with Maribor ending their three-year drought without a Slovenian top-flight title last season as they won their 16th PrvaLiga honor. Meanwhile Shakhtyor won their second consecutive title in the Belarus top flight.
In terms of preparations for the clash, Maribor have played five friendly games winning just one while drawing three and losing one in the process. However, they head into the match in a good mood as their one victory came last time out, where their cruised to 7-1 friendly victory over NK Race on Thursday.
In contrast, Shakhtyor are more up to speed in terms of preparations since their domestic league is already underway and have played 12 league matches so far. They have won six, drawn three and lost three, and currently sit sixth on 21 points in the league standings. However, Soligorsk are coming off a 1-0 defeat to Belaz Zhodino last time out, which ended their three-match winning streak across all competitions.
Maribor vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk head to head
This will be the first encounter between the two. Take a look at their previous results;
Home
- NK Rave 1-7 Maribor
- Maribor 1-1 Partizani Tirana
- Maribor 1-1 Tuzla City
- Maribor 2-2 Trnava
- Maribor 0-1 Shkendija Tetovo
Away
- Shakhtyor 0-1 Belaz Zhodino
- Ostrovets 1-2 Shakhtyor
- Arsenal Dzerzhinsk 1-2 Shakhtyor
- Shakhtyor 2-0 Vitebsk
- Minsk 1-0 Shakhtyor
Maribor team news
Maribor have no injury concerns ahead of the clash.
Shakhtyor team news
Shakhtyor also have no fresh injury issues ahead of the Wednesday’s clash.
Prediction and odds
- Maribor aribor win
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
