Champions League second qualifying round first leg, The Showgrounds, 6pm
League form: Molde haven’t had the best start to the Tippeligaen season and after 16 games they’re down in 10th, just three points off the bottom of the tightly-bunched table. Of the four league games they’ve won so far this season, only one has come away from home.
Last game: A late equaliser from defender Joona Toivio earned them a 1-1 draw at home to fifth-placed Viking and stretched their unbeaten run to six league games (three wins and three draws).
The boss: You may recognise Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from his days banging in goals and winning the Champions League with Manchester United. After a few seasons with the United reserves, the “Baby-Faced Assassin” returned home to Norway and took over as Molde manager in early 2011. He won the Tippeligaen (Norway’s Premier Division) in both of his first two seasons with the club and, despite interest from the Premier League and Aston Villa in particular this year, is currently trying to steer his side to a domestic hat-trick.
One to watch: Midfielder Etzaz Hussein, 20, spent as a season and a half with Manchester United’s Academy and Reserves. After returning to Norway with Valerenga and Fredrikstad, he signed for Molde last season and has become a first-team regular under Solskjaer this season.
Sligo: The Bit O’Red come into their first-ever Champions League match with a bit of momentum after snatching a late draw against Premier Division leaders St Pat’s. Manager Ian Baraclough faces a few injury concerns with Danny Ventre (leg), Danny North (knee), Raffaele Cretaro (hamstring) and Aaron Greene (foot) all missing Sunday’s game while Pascal Millien is on international duty at the Gold Cup with Haiti.
Everything you need to know about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Molde FK
Molde manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at yesterday’s pre-match press conference (©INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan)
Sligo Rovers v Molde FK
Champions League second qualifying round first leg, The Showgrounds, 6pm
League form: Molde haven’t had the best start to the Tippeligaen season and after 16 games they’re down in 10th, just three points off the bottom of the tightly-bunched table. Of the four league games they’ve won so far this season, only one has come away from home.
Last game: A late equaliser from defender Joona Toivio earned them a 1-1 draw at home to fifth-placed Viking and stretched their unbeaten run to six league games (three wins and three draws).
The boss: You may recognise Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from his days banging in goals and winning the Champions League with Manchester United. After a few seasons with the United reserves, the “Baby-Faced Assassin” returned home to Norway and took over as Molde manager in early 2011. He won the Tippeligaen (Norway’s Premier Division) in both of his first two seasons with the club and, despite interest from the Premier League and Aston Villa in particular this year, is currently trying to steer his side to a domestic hat-trick.
One to watch: Midfielder Etzaz Hussein, 20, spent as a season and a half with Manchester United’s Academy and Reserves. After returning to Norway with Valerenga and Fredrikstad, he signed for Molde last season and has become a first-team regular under Solskjaer this season.
Sligo: The Bit O’Red come into their first-ever Champions League match with a bit of momentum after snatching a late draw against Premier Division leaders St Pat’s. Manager Ian Baraclough faces a few injury concerns with Danny Ventre (leg), Danny North (knee), Raffaele Cretaro (hamstring) and Aaron Greene (foot) all missing Sunday’s game while Pascal Millien is on international duty at the Gold Cup with Haiti.
Odds: Sligo 13/5 Draw 23/10 Molde Evs
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer touches down in Knock ahead of Champions League clash
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Bit O'Red Champions League Ian Baraclough Molde Sligo Rovers The Showgrounds