KuPS vs Vardar Skopje Prediction: KuPS can finish the job

KuPS and Vardar Skopje continue their UEFA Champions League qualification quest, with a second-leg first-round tie at Vare Areena on Tuesday evening (6pm local, 4pm BST). The Finnish side hold a 2-0 advantage from the first contest in North Macedonia and the Yellow and Black will hope to complete the job in Kuopio.

Vardar Skopje have work to do if they are to keep their Champions League dreams alive and the Red and Blacks could fall at the first hurdle. Below are my KuPS vs Vardar Skopje predictions, supported by team news and match odds.

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Team News

KuPS have a clean bill of health ahead of the second leg, and while the Finnish side hold a 2-0 advantage, manager Miika Nuutinen is unlikely to risk too many changes with the mission not quite complete.

Vardar Skopje have an injury concern over full-back Ian Puleio, who was taken off early in the second half of last week’s tie. The North Macedonians will also be without the suspended Nemanja Bosancic after the midfielder was shown two yellow cards in the first leg. David Babunski is in line to deputise in the central area.

Football Odds

KuPS vs Vardar Skopje Odds

KuPS are 4/6 to win on home turf and secure their place in the next round of qualifiers in style. Vardar Skopje are 11/4 to win on the road, with the draw available at 16/5. Over 2.5 goals is an 8/15 chance, while both teams to score is 4/7.

KuPS to beat Vardar Skopje (90 mins) @ 4/6

Two-legged qualification ties often pose punters with an extra puzzle and the Champions League tie between KuPS and Vardar Skopje has an added layer of complexity.

KuPS were clearly the better side when winning 2-0 in North Macedonia last week and the Finnish outfit rate a superior team regardless of the first-leg result.

The Yellow and Blacks limited the home side to only three shots on target, and while Bosancic’s red card helped Nuutinen’s men cruise to victory, KuPS were already 2-0 up before the midfielder was dismissed.

The only doubt about KuPS finishing the job on home turf is that the Finnish outfit don’t need to win the match to progress.

However, the Yellow and Blacks have scored 12 goals in their last four matches and Nuutinen’s men do not rate a side to sit on their lead and play for a draw.

At 4/6, KuPS look a good bet to repeat last week’s victory over Vardar Skopje.

KuPS to win 2-1 @ 8/1

Punting a 2-1 KuPS victory on the correct score market could also pay dividends at 15/2. Three of the Yellow and Blacks’ last four games have gone over 2.5 goals, and while Vardar Skopje failed to score in the first leg, they had hit 22 goals in their previous six matches.

The Red and Blacks will be forced onto the front foot as they chase a 2-0 deficit and the 15/2 on offer about a 2-1 KuPS success could hold some value.