Thursday night could see a historical barrier broken as Shamrock Rovers host Molde in Dublin in a crunch Conference League last 16 playoff second leg.
Michael Noonan carved out his own bit of history in the first leg, by becoming the youngest ever scorer in a European club competition in a 1-0 win, but if Rovers can progress, they will become the first Irish side to reach a European knockout round.
PP football tipster Andrew Cunneen has dug into the stats and form ahead of massive night in Tallaght! Let’s get his Shamrock Rovers v Molde betting tips.
Shamrock Rovers v Molde betting tips
Under 2.5 goals
Molde to qualify for the next round
Either team to win in extra time
- These tips can also be added into a Bet Builder which pays at approximately 13/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
WHEN: Thursday, 20h of February, 8pm
WHERE: Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
TV: TNT Sports 2
Short-Price Banker: Under 2.5 Goals
These are two teams who are in the early part of their seasons, in theory. Albeit they’ve been playing European games.
A very cagey first leg, emphasised by the red card for Molde, and a result hanging in the balance. All of this combined should make sure this game feel like one where neither side wants to make a mistake.
Rovers, knowing they have something to hang onto, will absolutely break on Molde and take advantage of their early-season rust when playing out from the back like we saw in Norway. Molde? Even easier. They’ll believe, with eleven men, they’re going to score and their quality will eventually tell.
Both sides are going to expect something to happen without proactively going to get it, and this is why I love second legs of knockout competition that are in the balance.
Value Bet: Molde to Qualify for the Next Round
This isn’t me being down on Rovers, but they’ve had two huge occasions in the last seven days, and lost a couple of players early on in the derby at the weekend.
Their first-ever knockout round tie being just three days in front of the biggest-ever game in League of Ireland history against their bitter rivals is a lot to take on.
Gary O’Neill and Adam Matthews going off in the first half tests their squad depth. By full-time on Sunday, they had two 16-year-olds playing. Add in the fact they went on to lose that game and you realise Rovers might end up paying for their own success.
The odds would suggest this tie is very much in balance, and I agree – but I think there have been significant comedowns for the Hoops in the build-up, and I’ll take the price on the more established, Norwegian top tier side getting through.
Bigger Price Punt: Either Team to Win in Extra Time
It would be an acceptance from both sides if this game went 1-0 Molde in the second half.
Molde would feel the winning goal would eventually come, while Rovers will maintain a chance – which is likely all they’re hoping for.
And while I’d like to think I could side with Molde winning the game in extra time, the off-chance of a stupid decision or fatigue factoring is enough for me to hedge here, and I want to opt for either to do so.
Neither unit will be overly primed for this period, so I think it’s a case of big chances appearing at one end or the other, depending on the flow of the game due to weariness in the legs.
Shamrock Rovers v Molde betting tips
Under 2.5 goals
Molde to qualify for the next round
Either team to win in extra time
- These tips can also be added into a Bet Builder which pays at approximately 13/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*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.
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