Klaksvik take on the visitors Molde in the first leg of UEFA Champions League qualification semifinals. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 8th at Tórsvøllur (Torshavn).
The Faroese team has risen to new heights in the Champions League, securing their first-ever appearance in the Europa League group stage (at least in the Conference League). Few expected that Magni Høydal's team would defeat Ferencváros with a goalkeeper who was playing as a defender in the 5th division of Norway in the autumn. However, it happened (0-0, 0-3), and then Klaksvík found the strength to eliminate the Swedish champions Häcken (0-0, 3-3, winning 4-3 on penalties). The fairy tale for the Blues continues, but still, it will be quite challenging to match Molde after all these heroic feats.
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The experience of the Norwegian champions is evident compared to the Faroese champions. The difference in the strength of the leagues is well reflected in the UEFA coefficient table, and Moe's men haven't managed to break into the European competitions and medal places in Eliteserien for the past 4 years. The team is in good functional condition and was able to fairly defeat HIK at home (0-1, 2-0), securing their 6th victory in 7 recent matches in all competitions. It is likely that this series of successes can continue in Klaksvík.
However, the fairy tale usually comes to an end, and for Molde, this journey in the Champions League qualification should come to a halt. At home, Høydal's team tends to play cautiously (2 goalless draws against Hungarian and Swedish opponents are evidence of that), but Molde, known for their attacking style, will put pressure on the Faroese defense and not allow them to play their accustomed football. I consider the odds for the away team to win to be quite reasonable, as they are considered moderate favorites here. They are more experienced, stronger in terms of squad composition, and the proximity to the Champions League should motivate them to play actively against their opponents, who are not out of their league. Molde have an excellent chance to qualify for the Champions League group stage for the second time in their history.
Prediction for the match: Molde to win.
