Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Conference League match.
Shamrock Rovers’ shock victory over Molde (1:0) in the first leg of the play-off round did not make the Irish side favourites to advance. The Norwegians will now have a chance to respond in the return fixture, where they are expected to dominate possession and create chances, but Shamrock will aim to neutralise them with a deep defensive setup.
Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers had a stroke of luck in Norway, benefiting from Valdemar Jensen’s first-half red card, which forced Molde to remove their only striker. Even with a numerical advantage, Shamrock produced just 0.86 xG and managed only two shots on target. Their key playmaker Dylan Watts, who assisted the winning goal, is suspended for the return leg due to accumulated yellow cards. Furthermore, in their Irish league opener against Bohemians (0:1), Shamrock suffered additional injury blows with Adam Matthews, Gary O’Neill, and Daniel Mandroiu all forced off.
Molde
After conceding against Shamrock, Molde tried to inject energy into their attack with substitutions, but they only managed one shot on target all game. Their away form in the Conference League is concerning—they have failed to win any of their three away matches in the group stage, scoring just three goals in total. Given their current struggles, a high-scoring performance in Dublin seems unlikely.
Shamrock Rovers vs Molde Prediction
Shamrock’s depleted squad will be a major concern for the coaching staff. However, their defensive resilience is likely to be their main focus in the second leg. Expect the Irish side to sit deep in two defensive lines, prioritising damage control rather than attacking ambition. Even if Molde find the net, the match is unlikely to turn into a goal-fest.
