Looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged February affair, Molde will welcome Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers to Aker Stadion for the first leg of their Conference League knockout phase play-off on Thursday night.
The Norwegian giants squeezed their way past the league phase of the competition in December, whereas the Hoops enjoyed a commendable six-game spell in the 36-team section.
Match preview
![Erling Moe, head coach of Molde, ahead of the UEFA Europa League play-off match between Molde and Elfsborg on August 22, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/35/erling-moe.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Erling Moe, head coach of Molde, ahead of the UEFA Europa League play-off match between Molde and Elfsborg on August 22, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]")
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After winning the Eliteserien as recently as 2022, Molde endured their joint-lowest finish of the last decade during a wretched 2024 campaign, in which the top-flight giants ended up in fifth position, missing out on European football, languishing ten points behind champions Bodo/Glimt.
Thursday night's hosts have been afforded nearly two months without the stresses of competitive football, with their most recent fixture arriving at Aker Stadion on December 19, when the Norwegians required a 4-3 success over Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Republic to advance past the league phase of the Conference League.
Picking up their second victory of the six-game section last time out, Molde squeezed into the top 24 of the league phase standings, ahead of Scottish Premiership side Hearts, who were knocked out of the competition in front of their home faithful due to an inferior goal difference.
Netting the first goal for Molde during the beating of Boleslav in December, Frederik Ihler has burst onto the continental stage for the hosts during the 2024-25 campaign, bagging four goals across six league phase contests ahead of the knockout stage play-offs this week.
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Normally a whipping boy on the European scene, Shamrock Rovers have enjoyed the role of a major player in the Conference League so far this season, with the perennial Irish champions battling for a top-eight finish in the league phase heading into December's matchday six.
However, the Hoops were set undoubtedly the hardest task in the competition last time out in the form of a trip to the Stamford Bridge fortress of Premier League big spenders Chelsea, who secured a comfortable 5-1 victory in West London, headlined by a first-half Marc Guiu hat-trick.
Bagging a momentary equaliser for Shamrock Rovers in the English capital at the end of 2024, Estonian midfielder Markus Poom is now back at Flora Tallinn, whilst leading marksman Johnny Kenny has returned to Scottish giants Celtic following a successful loan at Tallaght Stadium.
As a result, it is reasonable to argue that Stephen Bradley's men are in worse shape heading into Thursday night compared to at the conclusion of their league phase campaign, although the visitors will remain hopeful of earning an advantage in Molde ahead of next week's second leg.
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Team News
![Shamrock Rovers Aaron Greene reacts to a missed chance during the second qualifying round first leg match at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, against Sparta Prague - 23/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/aaron-greene.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Shamrock Rovers Aaron Greene reacts to a missed chance during the second qualifying round first leg match at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, against Sparta Prague - 23/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
Last featuring in the Conference League for Molde all the way back in October, Casper Oyvann remains sidelined due to a niggling knee injury.
A brilliant partner for the youthfulness of Ihler in attack, 34-year-old Magnus Wolff Eikrem should start for the Norwegians on Thursday night.
Shamrock are dealing with a long-term absentee in the form of striker Rory Gaffney, who has not kicked a competitive ball since April 2024 because of a leg issue.
With the likes of Poom and Kenny no longer amongst Bradley's squad, Daniel Mandroiu and Aaron Greene could be given the opportunity to start at Aker Stadion.
Once a consistent goalscorer for Shamrock, Graham Burke's powers waned somewhat during 2024, but the attacker will be desperate to commence 2025 with an attacking contribution.
Molde possible starting lineup:
Posiadala; Lund, Bjornbak, Haugen; Linnes, Eriksen, Enggard, Breivik, Kaasa; Eikrem, Ihler
Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pohls; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Byrne, Watts, O'Neil, Mandroiu, Honohan; Greene, Burke
We say: Molde 1-0 Shamrock Rovers
After losing a number of their league phase stars during the January window, Shamrock Rovers could struggle at Aker Stadion on Thursday night.
Molde made it to this stage by the skin of their teeth in December but appear in good shape to kick on and secure a spot in the last 16 of the Conference League.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
