Coleraine haven't made it to the main section of a European tournament since 1987 and that is extremely unlikely to change this year after last week's humbling Conference League first-leg loss in the Finnish capital.
HJK Helsinki hammered the Northern Irish outfit 5-0 last Thursday and, while they can head into this Conference League second leg knowing the job is all but done, there is a gulf between these sides which even a disparity in desire is unlikely to wipe out.
Coleraine v HJK Helsinki Tips Summary
Best Bet - HJK Helsinki to win @ 3/4
Alternative Bet - Under 10 corners @ 10/11
Bet Builder - HJK Helsinki to win, over 2.5 goals, Coleraine to have more corners @ 13/2
Coleraine v HJK Helsinki Prediction
Best Bet - HJK Helsinki to win @ 3/4
Teams who suffer a heavy first-leg defeat in European ties often land a consolation win in the reverse fixture, but even a less-interested Helsinki should prove too strong for an out-of-their-depth Coleraine.
The Finnish side scored two of their first-leg goals after making four substitutions, so it is not as if their second-string are worse than their opponents’ starters, especially given Norwich hero Teemu Pukki netted both of those late strikes.
Coleraine will take some belief from the fact Helsinki lost their last away game 2-0.
However, HJK won their previous three on the road by an aggregate 16-3 scoreline, and their immense firepower should lead to success at Inver Park, Larne, where the second leg is being played.
Alternative Bet: Under 10 corners @ 10/11
Only seven corners were awarded in last week’s first leg and the state of the tie suggests another low flag-kick count is on the cards on Thursday.
The hosts will go on the front foot in a bid to make a dent in the mammoth deficit and may earn a few corners.
However, Helsinki will be happy to sit in and slow things down, so they are unlikely to add much to the corner count.
Most of the game will be played in midfield and 10 looks a big line for corners.
Coleraine v HJK Helsinki Bet Builder Tip
HJK Helsinki to win
Over 2.5 goals
Coleraine to have more corners
Pays 13/2
Coleraine’s need to score at least five goals means they arrive at Inver Park with more desire than their visitors, but they lack the quality of Helsinki and the Finns, led by Pukki, should win again.
The state of the tie means goals are again on the agenda. Coleraine have nothing to lose and will go for it, while HJK have already proved they know where the back of the net is, making over 2.5 goals an appealing selection.
Round out the Bet Builder by taking the team with much more to play for to have more corners.
Helsinki will be happy to reserve energy and only attack in bursts. Their clinical finishing means that should result in a win, but perhaps not so many corners, so Coleraine should earn more flag-kicks, just as they did in the Finnish capital.
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Key Match Stats
Helsinki have won nine of their last 12 games
The Finnish side have scored an impressive 41 goals in that run
Coleraine’s last six competitive matches have produced at least three goals
Over 2.5 goals has also been a winning bet in five of HJK’s last six away games
Coleraine have gone two games without finding the net
Helsinki striker Teemu Pukki has scored three goals in as many games, despite playing just 82 minutes across those fixtures
Both teams to score has landed in only two of HJK’s last seven matches
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
