Europa Conference League Odds: What Are Shamrock Rovers’ Chances?
Following disappointing results last time out, there will be two teams eager to get their UEFA Europa Conference League Group F campaign back on track at Aker Stadion on Thursday evening and betting sites are ready for kick-off.
Four-time Norwegian champions, Molde will play host to League of Ireland leaders Shamrock Rovers in the third round of group stage fixtures.
Both sides will be desperate to pick up points, but bookmakers are in no doubt as to who the favourite is to prevail on the night.
Having played out a scoreless draw with Belgian side Gent in the opening game of Group F on September 8, Molde fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Djurgardens after conceding a stoppage-time goal to opposition striker Joel Asoro.
Like their forthcoming opponents, Rovers came away with a share of the spoils in their maiden Conference League bout with Djurgardens – a 0-0 stalemate at Tallaght Stadium.
Stephen Bradley’s side have struggled away from home across all three tiers of Europe this season and a 3-0 reversal to Gent at Ghelamco Arena on September 15 has left them with no margin for error in their bid to reach the knockout rounds.
Norwegians Expected To Claim First Group Win
Molde are perhaps best known as the former club of Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – as both a player and manager – and Manchester City attacker Erling Haaland.
The same kind of calibre isn’t there in the current squad, but the bookmakers are still convinced that Erling Moe’s outfit will register their first win of the competition on home turf.
The best football betting sites are offering odds of just 1/4 on Molde emerging victorious against their Dublin counterparts.
Rovers Rated As Outsiders Once Again
Rovers manager Bradley and his players have spoken of their ambition to progress beyond the group stages of the Conference League and an accomplished display at home to Djurgardens shows they are more than capable of competing at this level.
Nevertheless, the Hoops are – for the third game in succession – rated as underdogs in the quest for the three points on offer.
Ladbrokes are even going as big as 10/1 on the Irish side to win, even though it is only a slightly inferior goal difference that has them behind Molde in the group table.
Another Stalemate For Both Teams A Possibility
For those in the market for a draw, there are some prices on offer that are worthy of consideration.
William Hill rate another stalemate at 4/1 and given they are the only two teams in Group F who are yet to earn a win, this could well entice punters.
The one difference between the sides coming into this tie is the fact that Molde have opened their scoring account.
Despite eventually falling to defeat, the Norwegians did conjure goals through Datro Fofana and Emil Breivik against Djurgardens.
On the other hand, Rovers haven’t rattled the back of the opposition net in their two games to date.
Though they ended the campaign without a point to their name, the south Dubliners scored goals in four of the six games they played in the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League group stages (including one memorable goal at White Hart Lane).
Irish Team Will Be Confident Following Recent League Victory
They are known as an attacking side on the domestic front and Rovers will certainly be going out to create openings in the final-third on their latest visit to the continent.
The Hoops will also be buoyed by a 3-1 away win over Sligo Rovers last Saturday, which puts them five points clear at the summit of the League of Ireland Premier Division table with as many games remaining.
Since Shamrock Rovers were last in European action, they have suffered an FAI Cup quarter-final defeat to Derry City.
While this came as a disappointment for a side that are top of this competition’s roll of honour, it does lead to a less hectic end-of-season schedule.
Molde Cruising To Domestic Title
Whereas Rovers are being pressured by Derry in the race for league supremacy, Molde are cruising towards a fifth Norwegian title since 2011 in Norway.
With 24 games played from a total of 30, they are 15 points clear of Bodø/Glimt with just two defeats thus far in the 2022 league.
Molde aren’t expected to add the Conference League to their list of accolades with odds of an overall success ranging from 66/1 to 200/1 with BetVictor.
However, it is anticipated they will have too much for a Rovers team that are rated at 750/1 with bet365 to win this third-tier competition outright.