Europa Conference League Odds: What Are Shamrock Rovers’ Chances?
Daire Walsh
Following an 11-year wait, League of Ireland Premier Division outfit Shamrock Rovers will make their return to the group stages of European football on Thursday night and betting sites are ready for the big kick-off.
Back in 2011, Rovers – managed at the time by future Northern Ireland and Stoke City boss Michael O’Neill – pulled out all the stops to progress from the qualification stages of the UEFA Europa League.
By doing so, the Dubliners became the first Irish club to compete in the Europa League group stage.
Even though they ultimately finished fourth behind PAOK, Rubin Kazan and Tottenham Hotspur (who had a teenage Harry Kane within their ranks) in the next phase of the competition, it was still regarded as a major achievement within the landscape of Irish football.
Rovers Earn Their Way To Conference Group Stages
League rivals Dundalk have since competed twice in the group stages of the Europa League, but the introduction of a third-tier European competition has afforded an opportunity to Rovers.
Before we examine how the best football betting sites are viewing their chances of success, we will give a quick reminder of how Rovers reached this point.
Starting out in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Rovers overcame Hibernians of Malta on a 3-0 aggregate score to set-up a two-legged clash with Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the next phase.
Despite losing out 4-2 over 180 minutes, Stephen Bradley’s charges transferred to the third qualifying round of the Europa League, where they comfortably accounted for North Macedonia’s Shkupi.
This led to a brace of play-off showdowns with Hungary’s Ferencvaros, who defeated Rovers 4-0 on their home patch in Budapest on August 18.
A 1-0 victory at Tallaght Stadium seven days later wasn’t enough to keep their Europa League dreams alive, but a shot at the Conference League group stages has provided them with considerable solace.
Dublin Club Seen As Underdogs
Given they are playing at a level below both the Champions League and the Europa League, it is felt this is Rovers’ best opportunity to make a big splash on the continent.
Nevertheless – despite being ranked as third seeds – Rovers are still viewed as clear outsiders to progress into the Conference League knockouts.
Of the four teams in Group F, Belgian First Division side Gent have the shortest odds to win the competition outright – and they are only rated at 40/1 with 888sport.
Norwegian outfit Molde are behind them at 66/1, while Swedish representatives Djurgardens are out at 150/1 to spring a huge shock and win the entire tournament.
Djurgardens The Favourites Against Rovers
Meanwhile, Rovers are rated at 500/1 with BetVictor to claim what would be a maiden European crown.
By extension, this should make Rovers underdogs for all five of their group games and that is certainly the case for their opener at home to Djurgardens tomorrow.
The odds on the Swedes emerging from the Irish capital with a win to show for their efforts are rated at Evens.
A Rovers triumph is rated at 3/1 with bet365 and you can get the same sort of value on the game ending in a draw.
Rovers Formidable On Home Soil
Shamrock Rovers shouldn’t be underestimated on their home turf, however, as it has proven to be a fortress for the Metropolitan men in European football thus far this season.
While the Premier Division pace-setters had a record of one win, one defeat and two losses on the road in their various qualifiers, they recorded four consecutive triumphs when playing in front of a partisan crowd in Tallaght.
This is something that punters should take under due consideration and the odds of 11/1 with betting apps on Rovers registering a 1-0 win certainly looks enticing.
There is a value of 12/1 on a Rovers victory of 2-1, while a 1-1 stalemate and a scoreless draw are available at odds of 6/1 and 13/1 respectively.
Both Teams Battle Hardened For Crucial Tie
There shouldn’t be any fear of rustiness with either of these teams, who are at an advanced stage in their respective leagues.
Djurgardens have played 21 games in Allsvenskan and are currently second behind leaders BK Hacken, whereas Rovers are at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after 27 games.
With Gent and Molde having both played European knockout football in recent seasons, the Hoops and their Scandinavian counterparts will know a win in Tallaght could go a long way towards forging a successful group stage campaign.
