Shamrock Rovers vs Molde prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-12 19:00.
A dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Shelbourne last time out ensured that Shamrock Rovers remained in pole position for a 20th Irish championship with just four games left to play. Things haven’t been so rosy on the European front though, with a winless UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) group stage to date leaving the Dublin outfit at risk of an early elimination here.
Even if Shamrock Rovers are dumped out of the group, this has already been a memorable European adventure for the minnows. This clash with Norwegian champions elect Molde will be Shamrock’s 12th European game of the season, and their unbeaten home record across the five games during that run (W4, D1) suggests that the Dublin team can build on their club record one point in a UEFA group stage.
Molde have some work to do if they’re to top this UECL group after only recording their first victory at the third time of asking in the reverse (W1, D1, L1). However a 5-0 win over Ham-Kam in the Norwegian Eliteserien last time out kept Molde’s lead at the top of the table to a staggering 15 points, a lead that will become unassailable with just one more point!
Alternating between wins and losses in each of their four European road trips this season (W2, L2), Molde will hope to continue that streak here after falling foul of a 91st minute winner in their most recent trip to Djurgårdens. Those two travelling wins this season doubled Molde’s tally in European away games, yet they’re still in negative equity across all of their continental jaunts (W4, D2, L7).
Players to watch: Rory Gaffney scored a stunning volley late in the day to defeat Shelbourne and then claimed, "The league is our bread and butter, Europe is great but it’s just a bonus at the end of the day”, a comment that might suggest he’ll lack the same motivation in this clash. Trying to outdo him will be Molde’s Ola Brynhildsen who only failed to score in one of his last five club appearances, while three of the goals scored during that run were first-half match openers.
Hot stat: Molde scored in both halves in five of their last six competitive matches.