Europa Conference League action returns on Thursday night for the play-off first legs and our tipster Andrew Cunneen is all over Shamrock Rovers’ trip to Norway to face Molde.
The Irish Premier Division side finished 13 places above Molde in the league phase but who will come out on top in the play off with a spot in the last 16 up for grabs?
He’s got three selections ranging from a short-priced play to a long-range punt. Let’s get his Molde v Shamrock Rovers betting tips.
Molde v Shamrock Rovers Betting Tips
Short-price play: Molde to win
Value bet: Under 2.5 goals
Value punt: Valdemar Lund to score first
WHEN: Thursday, 13th of February, 5:45pm
WHERE: Aker Stadion, Norway
TV: TNT Sports 2
Short-Price Play: Molde to Win
I’m an unapologetic advocate for Irish football and I possess some bizarre belief that they’ll always overachieve in Europe.
Part of that is growing up and seeing the scalps in UEFA Cup qualifying, and learning capital cities of Europe by proxy.
But unfortunately, there’s no way I can justify putting up Shamrock Rovers to win this game of football, and I find it hard to see a path to them even notching a draw.
Molde are a class above what Rovers put on display during the competition to-date of course, but the issue doesn’t lie there – it’s about what’s transpired since then.
Rovers have lost three of their most prolific players in Neil Farrugia, Johnny Kenny and Darragh Burns.
That’s very hard to come back from, and while the rejig will likely happen over time – in plenty of time to see them compete for the league – going to Norway in a game of this magnitude with very little lead-in is likely a step too far.
Value Bet: Under 2.5 Goals
I’ve already made the case for Rovers to struggle to get things moving in the final third, but what about Molde?
These teams should be pretty legless. They’re into month twelve of their respective seasons and it’s hard to get your body used to both a pre-season psychology and a late-season physical toll.
It could be a slow burner, as often happens with knockout games in the first leg anyway – and then when you factor in that Ola Brynhildsen has returned to his parent club, the spark that was responsible for ten goals in eleven games last season has vanished.
Where do the goals come from? Well, Fredrik Gulbrandsen will have to step up from his tally last year, as the majority of their goals remaining in the squad come from advanced midfield positions rather than a traditional number nine.
If Rovers play somewhat of a low block, I’m not sure the number tens will have the room to operate in.
Value Punt: Valdemar Lund to Score First
Molde have lost some pieces. Mathias Lovik has signed for Parma and Anders Hagelskjaer is gone to Wycombe.
Their backline will look different, but the centre half pairing of Lund and Bjornbak is towering, and they’ll likely look to the experience and potential one-two to carry them to a more disciplined showing than they gave last season.
While Bjornbak is the elder statesman of the two, Lund looks like he could be anything. The one thing he definitely will be – is a nightmare from set pieces. At nearly six-foot-five, I’d expect him to be going close from corners, and in a game where the margins will be tight, he’s definitely worth a squeak at the prices.
Molde v Shamrock Rovers Betting Tips
Short-price play: Molde to win
Value bet: Under 2.5 goals
Value punt: Valdemar Lund to score first
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
READ MORE
- Shoot on over to Paddy Power News for the best Football Betting Tips & News
- Football Accumulator Tips: Thursday’s 20/1 Europa League Play-offs Acca
- Football Tips: Friday night’s 35/1 European Football Bet Builder
- Brighton v Chelsea Tips: Our 3 best bets on Friday include a 22/1 shout
- Introducing Super Sub 2.0: Now with even more markets, including a raft of 2+ and 3+ options!
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
