St Patrick’s v Norrkoping
Thursday 11th July 1945hrs
Football – Europe– Europa League
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: 10/11 (odds taken 21.30 GMT, Tuesday 9th July)
It’s barely any time since Chelsea lifted the Europa League in Baku but the qualifiers are here once again as both St Patricks and Norrkoping attempt to take their first step towards what they hope will be the group stage.
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/4 | 14/5 | 13/20 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from Betway on July 9th, 2019 at 21.30)
Europa League Betting at Betfred
St Patrick’s Preview – Can the Irish find a result to take to Sweden in a week’s time ?
St Patrick’s are competing in the Europa League for the first time in three seasons and looking to make it to the group stage for the first ever time. Clearly that’s going to be a big ask for the Irish club but they will be looking for a positive result on Thursday. The club have come close in the past, however, most notably reaching the playoff round in 2009. Steaua Bucharest eliminated them on that occasion and it’s already a tough start to qualification, 10 years on. Harry Kenny’s team are well into their season so there will be no issue in terms of match fitness. This is Kenny’s first season in charge and it’s been a relatively positive season thus far. Currently in fourth spot they have a bit of work to do in order to finish in the European spots for next year. Their form coming into this game has been good, however, with three wins in their last four league games and just one defeat in six.
Scottish midfielder Rhys McCabe has a big influence on this team. Having joined from Sligo Rovers he has become an integral part of this team and is a permanent fixture in the team. He’s yet to score for St Pats but it doesn’t diminish his contribution to the team and he will have to be at his best if St Patrick’s are to claim a result on Thursday.
Norrkoping Preview – Will visitors take a lead back home with them?
Norrkoping are not regular competitors in European football but there’s no doubt this current group are making strides to change that. Up until 2016 the Swedes had not qualified for Europe for 15 years. Now, ahead of Thursday’s game, they have played in European competition in three of the last four years. It’s testament to the job that Jens Gustafsson has done since taking over three years ago. The coach will be looking to make a better fist of it this time around, though, having not gotten past the second round. Like their opponents they too have never played in the group stage which will be their aim setting out.
It’s been something of a struggle for them so far this season in their domestic league. With 15 games gone Norrkoping are in sixth spot with just six wins all season. To their credit, though, they have lost just three games and are only four points off the European spots. It’s also just one defeat in their last seven with five wins in that time.
Key-Facts – St Patrick’s v Norrkoping
- Neither of these sides have had great success in Europe in recent years and both looking to reach the group stage of the first time
- St Patrick’s and Norrkoping are both in good form coming into this encounter and should be in confident mood
- Jordan Larrson, son of Henrik, has been in sensational form for Norrkoping and is their main danger man
St Patrick’s v Norrkoping Betting Advice
St Patrick’s know that if they are to have a realistic chance of progressing they will have to get a result at home on Thursday. One man they will have to be wary of is forward Jordan Larsson who has scored nine goals in 15 games this season. His initial move away from Sweden never worked out but he’s certainly keen to make up for that. The home team will have to keep him quiet.
The home team are not prolific scorers, though, and have scored only 21 in their 25 league games. Due to that, they will look to keep things as tight for as long as possible. Norrkoping will likely not force the pace either being the away team and would potentially be happy with anything other than a loss to take back to Sweden next week. This game screams under 2.5 goals and that’s the selection.
