We have reached the second round of 2022/23 Europa Conference League qualifying and on the 21st of July we have a meeting between Molde FK and IF Elfsborg.
The first leg of the tie will be played at the Aker Stadion, giving the Norwegian team home advantage.
Bli med oss til Europa igjen! 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/QCm1QJaME3— Molde Fotballklubb (@Molde_FK) July 20, 2022
Bli med oss til Europa igjen! 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/QCm1QJaME3
Molde FK come into the match on the back of a 1-0 home victory over Haugesund in the Eliteserien on the weekend.
The only goal of the game was scored in the 57th minute from the penalty spot and it was enough for Molde FK to take maximum points. That result leaves them top of the table in Norway on goal difference having played 15 fixtures.
The win over Haugesund means Molde FK are undefeated in their last 13 competitive games in all competitions. All those matches have been played either in the Eliteserien or in the Norwegian Cup.
Home form shows Molde FK are undefeated in their last 6 competitive games at the Aker Stadion.
This will be their third fixture at home in the Europa Conference League and Molde FK have won 1 and drawn 1 of their previous 2 games, which were both last season.
Molde FK scored in both matches and conceded just 1 goal but were eliminated via a penalty shoot out last season at the hands of Trabzonspor.
IF Elfsborg travel to the Aker Stadion having previously lost 3-0 at Hammarby in the Allsvenskan. The goals were scored at the beginning and end of the first half and with 16 minutes remaining of the match in the second half.
It was a disappointing result against a team who were only 4 points ahead of IF Elfsborg before the game.
That result means IF Elfsborg have failed to win any of their 3 most recent matches, all of which have been in the domestic league. In addition to the loss at Hammarby, there have been draws at home with AIK and away to Häcken in the Allsvenskan.
Away form in general is poor and IF Elfsborg have recorded only 1 win from their last 7 away fixtures in all competitions.
This will be their fourth away match in the Europa Conference League and IF Elfsborg have won 2 and lost 1. Their most recent away Europa Conference League away game ended in a heavy 5-0 loss at Feyenoord.
Team news and Molde FK are expected to be without the injured quartet of Ola Brynhildsen, Martin Ellingsen, Björn Sigurdarson, and Kristoffer Haraldseid.
IF Elfsborg could start with just one man in attack and that could be Rasmus Alm, who is their top scorer in the Allsvenskan this season with 5 goals.
Molde FK have a good recent home record have been in form this season. They will be confident of securing a win in this first leg and we expect Molde FK to come out on top, with both teams scoring. A 2 goal winning margin would be a good lead for Molde FK to take to Sweden.