The first leg of the 2024/25 Conference League playoff between Molde (Norway) and Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) will be held on February 13 at the Molde Stadium. Molde vs. Shamrock Rovers: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Molde
The Norwegians finished the group stage in 23rd place, accumulating seven points. Notably, they secured their playoff spot only in the final round by defeating Mlada Boleslav 4-3 at home, with the decisive goal coming after the 90th minute. Before this victory, Molde had gone four matches without a win in this European competition (1 draw and 3 losses). The team is participating in the Conference League for the fourth time but has only reached the round of 16 once.
In the offseason, the club appointed a new coach, Per-Mathias Høgmo.
- At least three goals have been scored in 11 of Molde's last 12 games in this European competition.
- In the last 15 matches of the Norwegians in this tournament, there has been only one draw (7 wins and 7 losses).
- The number "3" appeared in the final scoreline in 5 of the last 7 home games of the club in the Conference League.
Predicted lineup for Molde (4-5-1)
Elbert Posiadala – Valdemar Lund Jensen, Kristoffer Haugen, Martin Linnes, Martin Bjørnbak – Mads Enggaard, Kristian Eriksen, Emil Breivik, Markus Kaasa, Magnus Eikrem – Frederik Iler.
Shamrock Rovers
The Irish side lost only once in the group stage. This defeat came in the final round, where they were expectedly beaten 5-1 away by Chelsea. Before this, Stephen Bradley's team had a five-match unbeaten run in the Conference League (3 wins and 2 draws). The club finished in a high 10th place, missing out on the top eight only due to an inferior goal difference. Interestingly, the Irish club has reached the playoffs of a European competition for the first time this century.
- The number "1" appeared in the final scoreline in 5 of Shamrock Rovers' last 6 games in the Conference League.
- At least two goals have been scored in the club's last eight matches in this tournament.
- The Irish team lost the first half in 7 of their last 8 away matches in this European competition.
Predicted lineup for Shamrock Rovers (3-5-2)
Leon Pohls – Lee Grace, Daniel Cleary, Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes – Joshua Honohan, Dylan Watts, Markus Poom, Gary O'Neill, Darragh Burns – Neil Farrugia, Johnny Kenny.
Match Prediction: Molde vs. Shamrock Rovers
I believe the Norwegians will comfortably defeat this opponent, doing so in both legs. The Irish champions have not only reached the playoffs of a European competition for the first time but previously usually ended their campaigns in the qualifying rounds. Incidentally, they managed to reach the playoffs thanks to a favorable schedule, which included matches against Borac, New Saints, and Larne, where the Irish collected maximum points.
Shamrock Rovers are likely to lose in Norway by a margin of two or more goals. Molde is a regular participant in European competitions and often plays in the autumn stage. The Scandinavians have won seven of their last ten home matches in the Conference League and Europa League, scoring at least two goals in each victory. In the Conference League, the team has five wins in their last seven home games.
My prediction – Molde with a handicap (-1.5)
* The starting lineup for each team is based on their last match in this tournament.
NK Celje
APOEL
TSC
Jagiellonia
Víkingur Reykjavík
Panathinaikos
Gent
Real Betis
Copenhagen
Heidenheim
Omonia
Pafos
Borac Banja Luka
Olimpija Ljubljana
