Molde vs Elfsborg Prediction & Betting Tips (22 August)

Quite disappointingly 5th in the Norwegian championship last season, Molde saved its season by winning the National Cup, which allowed it to secure a ticket for these preliminary rounds of the Europa League. This team also made an impression during the previous rounds by winning against Silkeborg 5-4 over the two matches and then against Cercles Bruges 3-1 after having notably won the first leg 3-0 brilliantly. Fully engaged in its championship in Norway, Molde is currently at the foot of the podium with 2 points behind 3rd, Viking, and a game in hand, but they did not play last weekend. For their part, Elfsborg distinguished itself last year by taking 2nd place in the Swedish championship behind the locomotive of Malmö but it nevertheless had to enter these qualifiers for the Europa League in the 1st round.

This team showed a lot of seriousness to defeat Pafos 8-2 over the two matches, Sheriff Tiraspol 3-1 and Rijeka 3-1 to reach these play-offs. On the other hand, it is more difficult in the championship for the partners of the former Guingampais Larsson who are only in 7th place in the ranking. Last weekend they had to share the points with Mjällby 1-1.

Logically, a huge majority of the players who make up this Molde team are Norwegian but none of them have been called up to the national team. At the moment, the important defender Haugen and the 2 offensive captains Gulbrandsen (absent for months) and Berisha (5 goals, 3 assists last year) are on the floor. Conversely, the two current top scorers of this team in Tippeligaen are present. These are the fairly experienced midfielders Eikrem (8 goals) and Eriksen (9 goals). The two men also scored twice in these qualifiers. Suspended in the league last weekend, starting midfielder Ahmed Qasem (4 goals) will be back.

Same observation regarding defender Henriksson. We find in this team a man well known to Ligue 1 fans in the person of Zeneli (ex Reims). The Kosovar is a centerpiece of this team with 4 goals and 4 assists in the league. Among the other players to watch, we can cite the names of the Ghanaian Baidoo (6 goals, 4 assists) who scored 3 goals and delivered 2 assists in the previous rounds. Also watch out for his young compatriot Abdullai (4 goals) and the precious Hedlund (5 goals, 3 assists).