Molde will play host to Silkeborg when they travel to the Molde Stadion on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round matchup.
Both teams are set to make their first appearance on the continent this season after securing their place in the second round with domestic cup triumphs in the last campaign.
Match preview
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After six consecutive seasons of top-two finishes in the Norwegian Eliteserien, including winning the title in 2019 and 2022, Molde had an extremely disappointing 2023 by their standards, falling to fifth place and 19 points behind the champions Bodo/Glimt.
However, Molde salvaged their season by winning the Norwegian Cup for the sixth time in their history, earning them a spot in the second qualifying round for the 2024/25 Europa League.
They have been a regular presence in Europe in recent seasons, competing in the group stage of a European competition in three of the last four years, and they will be aiming to take part in this year's revamped league phase.
Erling Moe's side are already midway through their league campaign, currently sitting third in the table after 16 matches and eight points behind league-leading Bodo/Glimt.
The visitors also qualified to the Europa League second qualifying round after coming out on top in last year's Oddset Pokalen for just the second time in their history, narrowly defeating Aarhus Gymnastikforening 1-0 in the final.
Silkeborg have been far from one of the best sides in Danish football in recent history, only lifting the Danish Superliga on one occasion in 1993-94 and have finished in the bottom half in two of the last five campaigns.
This will be their second appearance in European competition in the last 22 years, having dropped into the Europa Conference League group stage in 2022-23 after losing their Europa League playoff, with their previous appearance coming back in 2001-02.
Unlike their hosts, Kent Nielsen's side only began their domestic league season last weekend, getting off to the perfect start with a dominant 1-0 win over newly promoted SonderjyskE.
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Team News
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The hosts are likely to make several changes following their disappointing 3-2 defeat against a KFUM Oslo side competing in the top division for the first time in their history.
Magnus Wolff Eikrem is expected to start in the forward line once again, having already scored an impressive eight league goals in 15 appearances, while midfielder Kristian Eriksen, who also boasts eight Eliteserien goals, is likely to return to the side after serving a one-match suspension last time out.
As for the visitors, a commanding performance that saw them take 18 shots to their opponents' eight in their opening Danish Superliga match could mean Nielsen opts to name the same side here.
Last season's top scorer Alexander Lind is likely to start upfront, supported by Tonni Adamsen and Anders Klynge, who came off the bench in their last game after recovering from a slight knock in preseason.
Molde possible starting lineup:
Posiadala; Amundsen, Oyvann, Hagelskjaer; Linnes, Kaasa, Daehli, Breivik, Lovik; Eriksen, Eikrem
Silkeborg possible starting lineup:
Larsen; Ostrom, Rodin, Ganchas, Poulsen; Mattsson, Brink, Larsen; Adamsen, Klynge; Lind
We say: Molde 2-1 Silkeborg
With Molde holding both the home advantage and a perceived stronger squad heading into this second qualifying round first leg, the hosts are strong favourites to win the tie, and we expect them to get off to the ideal start with a victory here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
