Molde – Glenavon Prediction & Picks (19.07.2018)

Molde FK and Glenavon meet at Aker Stadion, in a return match for this phase of the UEFA Europa League (1st Qualifying Round), after the victory at Glenavon’s home by (2-1) in the first leg. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since both teams present considerable differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.

FK Molde:

The home team comes to this second leg with a disadvantage of 1 goal, but with the advantage of having scored 1 goal as a visitor in the first leg. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 20 goals scored and 19 conceded; against 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses at their stadium, with 33 goals scored and 13 conceded. In the last 10 home matches Molde FK has won 7, tied 1 and lost 2. The team has scored goals against the opponent in 7 of the last 10 matches, so his defense needs to improve, but his attack has scored regularly, since he has scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. In their away matches there is a tendency for goals, since 15 of the last 23 matches have ended with Over 2,5 goals. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 9 home matches for all competitions: they have suffered 4 of their 7 goals between minutes (31′-45 ‘).

Molde arrives at this unmotivated match, fruit of the defeat in the first leg against Glenavon, 2-1, in a game in which Hestad scored the only goal of the team. In this indoor game, coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to keep the team in 4-3-3, benefiting possession of the ball and organized attacks through the flanks: Etzaz Hussain is a player of great technical quality and very strong in the offensive transition. On the other hand, the Norwegian Haland is the great highlight of the Molde, with 8 goals scored. We emphasize that the premises present great quality at the time of finalizing, since they scored on average 2 goals per game in the last 10 games played. For this game the coach can count on all his players.

Glenavon:

The away team comes to this second leg with an advantage of 1 goal, but suffered 1 goal at home in the first leg. This is a team that usually gets better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses in away matches, with 33 goals scored and 15 conceded; against 4 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses at their stadium, with 21 goals scored and 23 conceded. In the last 10 away matches for all competitions, Glenavon has won 7, tied 2 and lost 1. Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. There is a tendency for goals in their away matches, since 22 of the last 24 matches they have played have ended with Over 1,5 goals.

The Glenavon comes to this game with a home win against Molde, 2-1, being in advantage in this tie: the goals were scored by Marshall and Daniels. In this return match it will be expected that coach Gary Hamilton presents a very defensive team, with short lines, looking in the best way to explore the space in the back of the opposing defense. Without great surprises, visitors present several weaknesses in the two sectors. There are no absences of weight for this game.