Next highlight for the Faroe Islands champions
Every year in European club competitions, underdogs show their best side and surprise the general public. Whether that’s teams from Luxembourg, the Faroe Islands or Moldova. Two teams that have already proven their underdog qualities will meet in a direct duel in the Europa League playoffs. Klaksvik vs. Sheriff Tiraspol is the name of the bet we are dealing with here.
Never before has a club from the Faroe Islands made it to the group stage of a European competition. This season is different as Faroese champions KI Klaksvik battle Sheriff Tiraspol in the playoffs for a place in the Europa League. The loser of this duel still has the chance to participate in the Conference League, which would be a big deal for the Faroese.
The Moldovans, on the other hand, have already made their mark in the top flight, including a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at the Estadio Bernabeu. On balance, the guests from Moldova are certainly favored.
However, the Faroese have been completely convincing in the qualifying rounds so far. Therefore, we think a surprise is definitely conceivable. Therefore, we assume that the decision about who will compete in the Europa League and who in the Conference League will be made in the second leg in a week in Tiraspol.
Klaksvik – statistics & current form
It is quite a miracle what happened in this European qualifier in Klaksvik, a town of 5000 people in the Faroe Islands. With Ferencvaros Budapest and BK Häcken, two clearly higher rated teams were eliminated in the qualification for the Champions League. Against Molde FK they had to admit defeat only in extra time in the third round. Nevertheless, Magne Hoseth’s team made history and will at least play in the Conference League.
Amateurs make a splash
Most of KI Klaksvik’s players are pure amateurs who work full-time at a regular job on the side and who can only hold training sessions in the evenings. However, with will, passion and the necessary heart and soul, it is apparently possible to hold your own against professionals, and more than once. Now the Faroese are planning the next coup on Thursday.
There’s no need to hide, with only one defeat in Molde in six games in the qualifiers for the top flight. It sounds like you should definitely keep an eye on the odds on double chance 1X in the duel between Klaksvik and Sheriff Tiraspol, especially since Magne Hoseth’s team is also doing well in the national league.
With 49 points from 18 games, Klaksvik are currently five points ahead of their closest rivals HB Torshavn and are well on their way to defending their title. In total, they have lost just two of their last 19 games. However, the Faroese champions haven’t won in three games. Perhaps the long double burden is making itself felt in the current phase.
Predicted lineup of Klaksvik:
Pettersen – Forren, Faerö, Pavlovic – Ahmed, Andreasen, Danielsen, Mikkelsen – Joensen, da Silva, Gussias – coach: Hoseth
Sheriff Tiraspol – Statistics & current form
Sheriff Tiraspol has followed the example that led Shakhtyor Donetsk or Ludogorez Razgrad to the Champions League every now and then over the years. A lot of money was used to lure numerous Brazilians to Transnistria. The number of local players in the squad can be counted on one hand. However, success has proven the Moldovan champions right. Nevertheless, it was not enough to qualify for the top division this season.
International away form could be improved
The Romanian champions Farul Constanta were eliminated first, but against Maccabi Haifa from Israel the team was eliminated in extra time of the second leg. Thus, the Moldovans had to fight for a place in the Europa League already in the third round. The match against BATE Borisov was decided early on after a 5:1 victory in the first leg. The second leg was then a mere formality at 2:2.
Italian Roberto Bordin’s team is also doing very well in the national league. After three games, they have a flawless nine points. Sheriff already has a three-point lead over its rivals. However, there is no doubt in Moldova that the team will successfully defend its title. Sheriff is in good early form, but has its problems away from home internationally.
They have not won any of their three matches in the top flight or the Europa League. On the other hand, things are going all the better at home. Last weekend, there was a clear 5-0 victory over Dacia Buiucani. With Momo Yansane, David Ankeye, Amine Talal, Cristian Tovar and Henrique Luvannor, there were five different scorers, although some regular players were still spared for the European Cup. It sounds like a prediction of more than 2.5 goals is logical on Thursday between Klaksvik and Sheriff Tiraspol as well.
Predicted lineup of Sheriff Tiraspol:
Koval – Artunduaga, Garananga, Kiki, Apostolakis – Ademo, Ricardinho, Joao Paulo – Badolo, Ngom Mbekeli, Luvannor – Coach: Bordin
Klaksvik – Sheriff Tiraspol Direct comparison / H2H balance
KI Klaksvik has played in the European Cup on and off since the early 1990s. The chronological sequence of Sheriff Tiraspol’s successes and participations in the European Cup ran relatively parallel to the Faroese. Therefore, it is quite surprising that these two teams have never faced each other and will cross blades for the first time in the Europa League playoffs on Thursday.
Klaksvik – Sheriff Tiraspol Tip
After the Faroese failed to realize their dream of the top flight after all, it shouldn’t matter too much to them whether they compete in the Europa League or the Conference League. The important thing is that they are the first Faroese club to make it to an international group stage. That alone is worth a lot. A win in the clash against the Moldovan champions would just be the icing on the cake.
The expectations in Transnistria, on the other hand, have changed in recent years. It should already be the Europa League.
There might be some goals as well, because especially in the matches of the Moldovan champions it has been ringing very often lately. We think it is possible that the Faroese will not lose. Bets on double chance 1X therefore certainly seem plausible, especially since the Moldovans have yet to win an away match internationally this season. However, we decided to play the betting odds on more than 2.5 goals between Klaksvik and Sheriff Tiraspol
