The New Saints Vs Vikingur Reykjavik
The New Saints Vs Vikingur Reykjavik Tuesday, 26 July 2022 – 18:15 (BST)
UEFA Europa Conference League
Pick: Over 3.5 Goals
Odds: 11/5
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 24 July 2022)
Preview: Welsh side The New Saints seemed overawed out in Iceland, where a 2-0 loss has them on the brink in this UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round tie. Furthermore, Vikingur Reykjavik arrive at Park Hall stadium in excellent form and are unlikely to be kept quiet on the scoring front.
UEFA Europa Conference League Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
The New Saints – European home form suggests tie is far from lost?
Manager Anthony Limbrick must be quietly thrilled his team are only facing a two-goal deficit at half-time in the tie, after watching his players toil in the Icelandic capital last Thursday. Perhaps it was the side effects of their cruel 2-1 aggregate defeat the week before in Northern Ireland – coming within seconds of making the UCL second round, conceding in the 94th minute of normal time before losing in extra-time to Linfield.
The New Saints would win the Welsh Cymru Premier at a canter last season but didn’t show up at all well in Iceland, out-shot 16-4 (8 on target to 1). They now require a clear victory in Wales to have any chance of keeping their group stage aspirations alive. Fear not, though, for this is a team on a four-game win streak at home in Europe, the winning margin at least two goals in all but one of those contests at Park Hall.
Key Stat: TNS would win 14 of their 16 home league games (D1 L1) last season, averaging in excess of three goals a game (3.31), whilst giving up only 15, when at Park Hall stadium.
Vikingur Reykjavik – Will their two-goal lead suffice?
Such was their dominance of the first leg that head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson might feel slightly disappointed his team haven’t quite put the tie out of reach. The Icelanders – national champions last season for the first time in two decades – laid siege to the TNS goal throughout the opening 90 minutes but only had a couple goals, one in either halve, to show from 18 shots, eight of which found the target.
Even with that comfortable lead, nothing can be taken for granted. Vikingur Reykjavik’s record of two wins from ten European away matches (D2 L6) suggests a nervy second leg could potentially await. Their edge in terms of fitness and sharpness, with the current league season well underway in Iceland, was in evidence last week. Moreover, their form is exceptional, winning 11 of the last 13 competitive fixtures (D1 L1).
Key Stat: There were either Over 2.5 Goals or Both Teams To Score in eight of the ten previous European away games for Vikingur Reyjkavik.
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The New Saints Vs Vikingur Reykjavik Betting Advice
Reigning Icelandic league champions Vikingur Reykjavik very nearly pulled off a significant upset in their previous European outing, beaten 6-5 on aggregate by Sweden’s Malmo FF in the first qualifying round for the Champions League. They scored twice in the away leg, meaning they have now scored in five consecutive European away matches going back to 2015, netting two or more in three of these.
The New Saints Vs Vikingur Reykjavik – Key Facts:
- It is the team from Iceland, Vikingur Reykjavik, who hold a commanding 2-0 aggregate lead. However, The New Saints are capable of turning it around, as evidenced by their recent run of four successive home victories in European competition.
- Vikingur Reykjavik should have an edge with regards to match sharpness. They sit second after 13 games of the ongoing Icelandic Urvalsdeild. Conversely, the Welsh Cymru Premier isn’t scheduled to get underway until Friday, 12 August.
- There were four or more goals in four of eight prior home matches in Europe for TNS. This was also the case for Vikingur Reykjavik in seven of their ten all-time away European outings.
With the home side forced to chase goals from the outset, and their opponents – who are in a rich vein of form, scoring 19 across the last seven games in all competitions – renowned for scoring on their travels in Europe, it really would come as a surprise were this second leg not to produce a fair few goals. There were Over 3.5 Goals in two of TNS’ past three home European games and three of Vikingur’s last five away.
Best Betting Odds – The New Saints Vs Vikingur Reykjavik
The New Saints – 2/1 (Coral)
Draw – 12/5 (Bet365)
Vikingur Reykjavik – 13/10 (WilliamHill)
