HJK will face Panevėžys in Helsinki on Tuesday night in the second leg of their Champions League first-round qualifier.
The first leg was a shock, to say the least, as the Lithuanian side ran out as 3-0 winners despite being considered as rank outsiders coming into the match.
Back on home soil, HJK will now look to turn the tie around and if there is one thing that the Champions League is famous for, then it's big comebacks so they won't feel down and out just yet.
As part of our latest round of Champions League tips, check out our HJK v Panevėžys prediction below.
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HJK v Panevėžys prediction: The host to turn it around
Key stats
- HJK play in a more competitive league than Panevėžys. Finland is ranked 35th in the UEFA coefficient rankings while Lithuania is ranked 43rd.
- Panevėžys have lost two of their last three matches in all competitions.
- Panevėžys have failed to score in two of their last three matches.
- Seven out of HJK's last eight matches have seen more than two goals scored.
Correct score prediction: HJK 3-0 Panevėžys
HJK need to win by three goals to take the match to extra time and by 4+ goals to win the tie inside 90 minutes. We aren't ruling out the possibility of the latter occurring, given they have recently recorded 5-0, 4-0 and 4-1 victories, however, Panevėžys will be dogged and make life as difficult as possible for the hosts.
HJK v Panevėžys: UCL history
HJK have significantly more European pedigree than their opponents and have played 196 matches in various European competitions. They have qualified for the group stages of the Champions League in 1998 and have participated in the group stages of the Europa League and Europa Conference League in the last two seasons.
Panevėžys, meanwhile, are very new to European football. They have participated in Europa Conference League qualifying in each of the last three seasons and this is they make their first-ever appearance in the Champions League with a 3-0 win last week.
HJK preview: Looking for a miracle
HJK were stunned last week but they won't make the same mistake of underestimating their Lithuanian opponents this time around. They are top of the Finnish Premier League once again but being eliminated at this stage of Champions League qualifying would be a huge blemish on their record.
Predicted lineup: Maenpaa (GK), Boamah, Toivio, Tomas, Keskinen, Kanellopoulos, Lingman, Pallas, Bande, Hostikka, Plange
Panevėžys preview: Can they hang on?
Panevėžys fans had the night of their lives last week when they downed HJK 3-0 and they now have something to hang on to in Finland. Last week's victory was even more surprising when you consider how poor they have been in the league this season. After winning it last season, they are now in serious danger of relegation.
Predicted lineup: Timbur (GK), Rasimavicius, Dubra, Klimavicius, Mazan, Gorobsov, Veliulis, Palacios-Martinez, De Vega, Mbo, Gussias
Player to watch: Luke Plange
If HJK are to turn this tie around then they are going to need a big performance from their main man up top, Luke Plange. The 21-year-old is currently on loan at the club from Crystal Place but has settled in well in Finland and has scored six league goals already for the club.
