On Wednesday night, Valur Reykjavik and Rosenborg clash in the Champions League first qualifying first leg.
The home side won the Icelandic top-flight title in 2017, which was their 21st domestic title. While they have been relatively successful at home, their Champions league experience is limited.
In fact, the club from the Icelandic capital has played just twice in Europe’s elite competition, which came a decade ago and ended in a 3-0 aggregate defeat by Belarussian outfit BATE Borisov.
A stellar recent home record will give the Icelandic side hope of gaining a good result in this tough game, as the home side has suffered just one home defeat in their previous 16 games on home soil. A defeat last out ended a 15-game unbeaten run at home.
Norwegian giants Rosenborg are far more experienced in the Champions league than their fellow Nordic opponents, having made their debut in the competition back in 2000.
The visitors might have more experience in the competition, but they have a poor recent record. In fact, the Scandinavian side has won just three of their last 11 outings. Their recent games in Europe’s elite competition have been low scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in 90 minutes in their previous four outings.
The Norwegian side has a woeful away record in the Champions league, having won just one of their last ten games on their travels. The visitors have failed to win in their previous seven away games, suffering five defeats in the process.
Rosenborg’s recent away games in this competition have been low scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in six of their last nine outings. The visitors have made it past this stage of the competition in the previous two seasons.
Forebet predicts that the Norwegian side will record a first leg win in a low scoring encounter to put one foot into the next round.