Hacken vs Molde prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-08 20:00.
Häcken have lived up to their status as the lowest ranked side in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) by losing all three of their group games, so they need something against Molde to retain any hope of progressing. Hammered 5-1 by their Norwegian opponents on matchday three, they’re also fighting in the Allsvenskan to qualify for Europe next term, with Sunday’s 4-2 league win over Malmö giving them a much-needed boost.
The Wasps have been stung by their maiden European group stage experience, highlighted by the fact that prior to their 1-0 defeat to Qarabağ on matchday two, they were unbeaten across five home European qualifying fixtures (W3, D2). Consecutive home league wins in which they scored four times shows they have goals in them, but so far, they haven’t managed similar in continental competition.
Molde might be disappointed with third place in the group at the halfway stage (W1, L2), and will see doing the double over Häcken as essential if they’re to reach the knockout stages for the second time in two UEL participations. They’ve the opposite problem to their hosts as their close-season league form has deserted them – that H2H win is their only victory across their last six competitive games (L5)!
With European qualification via the league now impossible, Erling Moe’s outfit can concentrate fully on the UEL, knowing that a win here would all but secure a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League in the new year. Ominously though, they’ve lost each of their last five European away fixtures, albeit by a one-goal margin on four occasions and have only ever won one European game in Sweden (L2)!
Players to watch: Edward Chilufya has scored in each of Häcken’s last three home victories, twice opening the scoring, including against Malmö on Sunday. Emil Breivik has scored between the 20th and 30th minute of two of Molde’s last three fixtures, including against Häcken in October.
Hot stat: Six of Häcken’s seven UEL games this term produced over 3.5 goals (W3, D1, L3).