On Wednesday night seven matches of the second qualifying round of the Champions League are on schedule for play, but in the first of them we have a large Scandinavian clash between Norway’s Rosenborg and Sweden’s Norrköping.
Of course that team from Trondheim stands as the favorite in this game, primarily because they have a lot more European experience, but also footballers of Norrkoping certainly didn’t win domestic title last season by a chance, so this could be a very interesting and uncertain game right until the end. All the more so because this is the first time in recent history that these two sides will meet in one official competitive match.
Champions League Second qualifying round, Game 1
Lerkendal Stadion
As we have already said that the most successful Norwegian team of all time probably has a somewhat greater chance to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League, even though they in this prestigious competition have not been for a full five years.
However, the arrival of coach Ingebrigtsen last year has brought a great progress in the game, and thus and the first ever national championship since 2011, while their dominance in the Norwegian championship has only continued in this season as well, considering that after 15 rounds they hold the league top, with three points more than the second placed team, Odd.
It should also be added that their only defeat of the season was in the first round, after which they have enrolled even 11 wins and three draws, with entering maximum number of points at home in eight games played.
Last weekend in front of their fans with 5:2 Rosenborg smashed Sarpsborg, which only confirms in what a great attacking mode this team is. In total so far in domestic championship Ingebrigtsen’s men have scored 30 goals, which is by far more than any other team in the league. So if you’re looking to back up Rosenborg be sure to check A-League soccer betting tips to find the best bets for that.Because of this against Norrkoping we expect to see them offensively and with the aim to score a goal as soon as possible, while it should be mention that the goalkeeper Hansen is doubtful due to injury problems.
Team probable lineup: Hansen (Londak) – Svensson, Eyjlofsson, Reginiussen, Skjelvik – Jensen, Konradsen, Midtsjo – Helland, Gytkjaer, Vilhjalmsson
As for the guests from Norrkoping, and they can boast that this first game of the second qualifying round of the Champions League they welcome after a great series of five wins and three draws, which brought them a breakthrough to the second place in the standings, having just three points less than the leading team Malmö.
However, the current Swedish champions those three draws achieved before the recent break of a month and a half, while last weekend on a difficult away match against Djurgården they’ve played a very smart game and with a goal from striker Andersson in the 67th minute have snatched a valuable victory 1-0 win.
It was also the best possible start for the new coach Gustafsson, who at the beginning of June on the bench Norrkoping replaced Janne Andersson, the coach which led the team to title, but then opted to take a job as the new national coach of Sweden. Besides him, this team have since left and two best players, midfielder Traustason and striker Kujovic, while on the other hand arrived only a winger Karlsson from the Danish Nordsjaelland. Due to injuries this match of the Champions League will miss the first goalkeeper Nilsson and defender Tkalčić.