On Tuesday night, Irish champions Dundalk host Norwegian champions Rosenborg in the Champions League 2nd qualifying round first leg.
Dundalk have been dominant in their domestic league, winning three consecutive titles. However, their record in the Champions League is poor. The Irish champions have won just one of their eight games in Europe’s elite competition. However, they head into this game in good form, having recorded five consecutive victories in the Irish top-flight without conceding a goal.
The home side’s home record in the Champions League is mixed, with one game won, one game lost and two games have finished in draws. They lost their last home game in the Champions League play-off 2-0 against Polish side Legia Warsaw.
Their home games in the competition have been low scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in three of their four games on home soil.
Rosenborg are more experienced European campaigners than their hosts are and are again dominating their domestic league the Eliteserien once again. However, their form has not exactly been convincing of late.
Just like their hosts, the Norwegian champions have a poor record in the Champions League, as they have lost five of their last seven games in Europe’s elite competition. Three wins in their last nine outings in the competition is not exactly a great record either.
Kare Ingebrigtsen’s side have a terrible recent away record in this competition, losing their last five games on their travels, while also conceding two or more goals in their last four away outings in Europe’s elite competition.
One win in eight away games is not a great Champions League record, especially as all those games were in the early stages of the competition.
Dundalk head into this clash as the form team on paper. However, Rosenborg do have a slightly better European pedigree and Forebet predicts the Norwegian champions will head home with a crucial victory.