Good Morning ☀️,

It’s Lucas here, your Chief Predictions Officer at What Are the Odds?

Most weeks, we send you a bunch of odds and predictions for the weekend ahead. But this week, the best action just so happened to be taking place today.

So, with the first game kicking off just hours from now, let’s skip the long-winded intro and get straight down to business.

Here’s what’s coming up in this week’s edition of What Are the Odds?

• A big batch of odds and predictions for this week’s Europa League qualification (round 1) games. 🦵⚽

• Some half-time entertainment in the form of a little soccer history and a fun little trivia quiz. 📚❓

• An inspiring quote from Ronaldo (the Brazilian Ronaldo, not the Portuguese Ronaldo). 🇧🇷💬✨

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This week’s top tips and score predictions, brought to you by CXSports — the leader in odds and score predictions.

⚽ Sabah Baku vs NK Celje
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 18:00 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: While this one definitely falls into the too-close-to-call camp, the double chance odds on this game are still pretty decent.

• CXSports says: Looks like Sabah Baku will be opening their Europa campaign with a tough opponent right off the bat, with NK Celje coming in fresh off the back of a hot Conference League quarter-final run. With that said, Sabah is not without momentum either (thanks to their recent Azerbaijan Cup victory), which might just give them the edge. With that said, Sabah’s defence will be put to the test by Celje’s more experienced midfield, although any challenges in defense should be offset by their attacking flair, but probably only enough to keep the scales evenly balanced. In short, this game could go either way.

• Score prediction: 2-1 or 1-2 for either side

Option #1

• Bet: Double Chance (Sabah Baku / NK Celje)

• Odds Range: 1.20-1.36

Option #2

• Bet: Both Teams to Score (Yes)

• Odds Range: 1.68-1.83

⚽ AEK Larnaca vs Partizan Belgrade
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 18:30 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: The double-chance play on this game is an excellent low-stakes punt for anyone looking for safe, high-probability plays this week.

• CXSports says: Based on past head-to-heads between these two, there’s a good chance this one’s going to be a reasonably high-scoring affair — the last time these two met, the game ended in a 2-2 draw, and their average per game is over 3. This is further backed up by the open, attacking style of play typically employed by both teams. As for who’s more likely to come out on top, AEK Larnaca are coming in hot off the back of a cup-winning domestic season, had a slight upper hand in previous head-to-heads, and will be enjoying the home advantage, although we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of a draw.

• Score prediction: 3-2 for AEK Larnaca or a 2-2 Draw

Option #1

• Bet: Double Chance (AEK Larnaca / Draw)

• Odds Range: 1.09-1.17

Option #2

• Bet: AEK Larnaca Victory

• Odds Range: 1.50-1.67

⚽ FC Sheriff Tiraspol vs KF Prishtina
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 19:00 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: This isn’t quite the surest thing this week, but it’s damn close — plus the odds are decent given Sheriff’s exceptional chances.

• CXSports says: Compared to FC Sheriff Tiraspol, KF Prishtina are relatively inexperienced when it comes to European competition. In fact, aside from a handful of preliminary/qualifying rounds, Prishtina’s experience is basically nil. Now compare this with Sheriff Tiraspol, who’ve already made at least 6 Europa League group stages, and even once managed to beat Real Madrid (2021) in a Champions League group stage match. Add to this Sheriff’s significant upper hand when it comes to talent depth, and the considerable home advantage they’ll enjoy, and it becomes clear who has a very big edge in this game.

• Score prediction: 2-0 for FC Sheriff Tiraspol

Option #1

• Bet: FC Sheriff Tiraspol Victory

• Odds Range: 1.20-1.36

Option #2

• Bet: Correct Score (2-0)

• Odds Range: 4.90-6.50

⚽ Paksi SE vs CFR Cluj
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 19:00 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: If you want great value odds, backing a Cluj Victory in this game is where the action’s at.

• CXSports says: Paksi SE have been a regular fixture in European qualifiers for a while now. However, they haven’t exactly done a lot with that experience. At least, not in the past — they did reach the Conference League playoffs in 2024, so there’s a chance they’ll be looking to build on that this year. Cluj, on the other hand, have been regularly making group stages. What’s more, they’ll be arriving at this game armed to the teeth with coach Dan Petrescu’s shrewd tactical know-how and a potent attack that could prove troublesome for Paksi. And while that might not be quite enough to completely destabilize Paksi, it is enough to give Cluj something resembling a decent edge in this game.

• Score prediction: 1-2 for CFR Cluj

Option #1

• Bet: CFR Cluj Victory

• Odds Range: 1.81-2.05

Option #2

• Bet: Both Teams to Score (Yes)

• Odds Range: 1.65-1.87

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This week, we celebrate the anniversary of one of the more bizarre mysteries in soccer — Ronaldo’s mysterious disappearance.

For those who don’t know the story, picture this — it’s July 12, 1998, and the FIFA World Cup Final is approaching. Paris and Brazil are playing, and teams sheets are handed around by the stewards just ahead of the match. That’s when an absolute bombshell drops. Ronaldo’s name is missing from Brazil’s lineup, and no one knows why.

Now, just to be clear, the Ronaldo we’re talking about here isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo. But this Ronaldo — Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima — was no less of a star. At the time, he was Brazil’s hero, so his absence was the equivalent of France turning up without Kylian Mbappé, or England without Harry Kane.

But then the confusion got even worse. Just as the game was about to kick off, Ronaldo suddenly appeared on the field with no explanation. Heads were scratched, and commentators the world over dedicated bajillions of words to figuring out the mystery — a mystery that wouldn’t be solved for years.

Eventually, after several years, Ronaldo came clean. Apparently, he’d had a seizure in his room and had blacked out right before the game. No wonder Brazil went down 3-0 to France.

And that leads us to this week’s trivia question. Unfortunately, our friends at Masters of Trivia didn’t have a (Brazilian) Ronaldo trivia quiz in their catalogue yet. So instead, here’s the next best thing — a question from the (Portuguese) Ronaldo Trivia Quiz that proves he definitely wasn’t the Ronaldo in this story.

Question: In what year was Cristiano Ronaldo born?

• A: 1982

• B: 1983

• C: 1985

• D: 1987

Think you know the answer?

Read to the end to see if you were right.

⚽ Levski vs Hapoel Beer Sheva
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 19:30 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: A nice double chance play here with a good chance of hitting (even if there’s better action elsewhere this week).

• CXSports says: With just two previous head-to-heads in this fixture, there isn’t a great deal of history between these two. With that said, the little history we have is quite clear — with their home advantage, Levski Sofia should be coming into this game with the upper hand. Of course, that advantage will only be small, and we should fully expect the Israeli heavyweights, Hapoel Beer Sheva, to cause more than a few complications for the home side — this is a squad that’s proven that it can both attack and defend admirably when put under pressure. In short, a slight edge to Levski, but expect both sides to be equally capable of taking the upper hand here.

• Score prediction: 1-2 or 2-1 for Either Side

Option #1

• Bet: Double Chance (Levski / Hapoel Beer Sheva)

• Odds Range: 1.20-1.36

Option #2

• Bet: Both Teams to Score (Yes)

• Odds Range: 1.77-2.00

⚽ Shakhtar Donetsk vs Ilves Tampere
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 20:00 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: There are some nice odds on a Shakhtar Donetsk victory given the huge upper hand they have in this match.

• CXSports says: With multiple early exits in past qualifying rounds, Ilves Tampere’s history in European competition is the sort that’s best described as “modest”. Shakhtar Donetsk, on the other hand, have a 43% overall win rate in European matches, along with multiple group stage campaigns under their belt. This makes Shakhtar a relative powerhouse compared to Ilves, and this is likely what we’ll see reflected on the field when these two meet.

• Score prediction: 3-1 for Shakhtar Donetsk

Option #1

• Bet: Shakhtar Donetsk Victory

• Odds Range: 1.13-1.20

Option #2

• Bet: Both Teams to Score (Yes)

• Odds Range: 1.78-2.06

⚽ Spartak Trnava vs BK Häcken
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 20:15 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: With a high probability of a draw, then this game could be exactly what you’re looking for if you want exceptional value in your odds.

• CXSports says: While Spartak Trnava’s track record in continental fixtures does leave a little to be desired, there’s something worth paying attention to — their away record is abysmal (no win in their last nine, scoreless in three straight). The obvious implication here is that, when playing at home, they can be significantly stronger than their overall record would suggest. BK Häcken, on the other hand, are more consistent (scored in their last 7 straight continental matches), meaning Spartak could find its home advantage neutralized here. In short, expect this one to be a close game with a high probability of ending in a draw.

• Score prediction: 2-2 Draw

Option #1

• Bet: Draw

• Odds Range: 2.80-3.38

Option #2

• Bet: Both Teams to Score (Yes)

• Odds Range: 1.63-1.83

⚽ Legia vs Aktobe
🏟 Europa League (Qualifications - Round 1)
Thursday 10 July; 21:00 (Europe/Paris)

• Why we’re watching: Hands down the best value odds this week if you compare the odds on offer with the probability of Legia winning.

• CXSports says: The head-to-head record between these two more or less tells us everything we need to know — Aktobe lost both times without scoring a single goal (2-0 and 1-0). And while things do change with time, that’s probably not going to be the case here judging by Aktobe’s recent form — even domestically, their pre-season results have been mixed at best. Legia Warsaw, on the other hand, have enjoyed some solid victories in the Polish Cup, setting them up as strong favorites in this game by a long, long way.

• Score prediction: 3-0 for Legia

Option #1

• Bet: Legia Victory

• Odds Range: 1.14-1.25

Option #2

• Bet: Both Teams to Score (No)

• Odds Range: 1.53-1.75

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Your weekly dose of inspiration, brought to you by Masters of Trivia.

To close out this week, here’s a quote from Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima.

The moral of the story?

If you take this quote and apply more generally, there are many ways to see and interpret anything.

Look at something one way, and it might look like a problem.

Look at it another way, and it might suddenly become an opportunity.

It’s up to you to decide how you see and interpret it.

Want to learn more about Ronaldo?

Masters of Trivia is the only trivia app where every player is rewarded. Play all the trivia quizzes you can handle and earn real rewards simply for participating.

Take Masters of Trivia for a spin with a Masters of Trivia Quiz today.

PS: The answer to this week’s question was [C] — Christiano Ronaldo was born in 1985, making him 13 years of age when Brazilian Ronaldo mysteriously disappeared. Discover more trivia like this with the Cristiano Ronaldo Trivia Quiz.