Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Conference League match.
Both Molde and Shamrock Rovers are set to kick off their official 2025 campaigns well before their domestic seasons begin. While neither side is considered a strong contender in the latter stages of the competition, they are expected to fight hard for progression in this tie.
Molde
The Norwegian side played four friendlies in January, scoring eight goals in those matches. However, their 2024 domestic campaign was disappointing, as they failed to finish in the top four of the Eliteserien and lost the Norwegian Cup final. On the European stage, though, they have consistently been involved in high-scoring encounters – in the group stage of the Europa Conference League, over 2.5 goals landed in five of their six matches.
Shamrock Rovers
The Irish side haven’t played a competitive match since December, having ended their domestic season back in November. Their most recent performance in the Europa Conference League qualifiers included a heavy loss to Chelsea (1:5), where their defence collapsed early, conceding five goals by the 58th minute. Manager Stephen Bradley has experimented with a risky three-man defence, which has led to high-scoring affairs in European competitions.
Molde vs Shamrock Rovers Prediction
Molde and Shamrock Rovers met in the 2022/23 group stage of the Europa Conference League, with the Norwegians winning both games comfortably (3:0 and 2:0). Both teams lack match fitness, which could lead to defensive errors and plenty of goal-scoring chances.
