Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Nigeria

Inter EscaldesInter Club d'Escaldesvs.Vikingur Reykjavík

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 June 2022, 17:38
Inter Club d'Escaldes and Vikingur Reykjavík will lock horns in the preliminary round of the Champions League on Friday evening, with a spot in the first qualifying round on offer for both sides.

Vikingur secured their spot in the final by recording a 6-1 victory over FCI Levadia on Tuesday, while Inter ran out 2-1 winners over La Fiorita to secure their spot in this match.

Match preview

Inter have won Andorra's top league in each of the last three seasons, which saw them qualify for the preliminary round of the Champions League on each occasion.

Federico Bessone's side have fallen at this stage of the European Cup in their last two participations, but they did reach the second qualifying round of the Europa League in 2020-21, in addition to making the second qualifying round of last season's UEFA Conference League.

Inter had to come from behind to triumph in their semi-final against La Fiorita, with the home side taking the lead in the 45th minute of the clash through Danilo Rinaldi.

Denis Soldevila levelled the scores in the 55th minute before adding a second five minutes later, and the second-half double was enough to send the Andorran side into the final.

Vikingur, meanwhile, lifted their sixth Icelandic League Championship last year, which saw them qualify for the preliminary round of this season's Champions League.

Vikings previously reached the first qualifying round of the European Cup back in 1992-93, while they were in the first qualifying round of the Europa League in both 2015-16 and 2020-21.

Vikingur are already 10 matches into their league season, currently sitting third in the table, boasting 19 points, and they will enter this match off the back of five straight victories in all competitions.

Arnar Gunnlaugsson's side entered their semi-final contest off the back of a 3-0 league win over IBV, and they comfortably progressed to the final courtesy of a 6-1 victory over FCI Levadia.

Vikings fell behind in the fifth minute of Tuesday's contest but were 3-1 ahead at the interval and scored another three goals in the second period to move to within one win of the first qualifying round of the Champions League.

Inter Club d'Escaldes Champions League form:

Inter Club d'Escaldes form (all competitions):

Vikingur Reykjavík Champions League form:

Vikingur Reykjavík form (all competitions):

Team News

Inter have not reported any fresh injury concerns from their semi-final contest with La Fiorita, and the five substitutions that occurred on Tuesday are all believed to have been tactical.

As a result, it would not be a surprise to see the same starting XI take to the field for this match, with Soldevila, who scored both goals of the semi-final, leading the line.

Sascha Andreu and Victor Casadesus also featured in attacking positions last time out and are likely to retain their spots in the front three, with head coach Bessone set to stick with a 3-4-3 formation.

As for Vikingur, head coach Gunnlaugsson also made five changes in the second half of his side's semi-final, with the match already finished at 4-1.

The Icelandic outfit are set to line up in a 4-3-3 formation in the final, with Nikolaj Hansen, who was on the scoresheet against FCI Levadia, leading the line once again.

Helge Gudjonsson will also be in contention after scoring off the bench last time out, but the number nine is likely to be among the substitutes for the first whistle once again.

Inter Club d'Escaldes possible starting lineup:

Coca; Roca, Feher, De Nova; Gallego, Martinez, Cabrera, Rubio; Casadesus, Soldevila, Andreu

Vikingur Reykjavík possible starting lineup:

Ingason; McLagan, Sigurdsson, Ekroth, Atlason; Punyed, Magnusson, Agnarsson; Andrason, Hansen, Ingason

We say: Inter Club d'Escaldes 1-2 Vikingur Reykjavík

Both sides will be confident heading into Friday's affair, but we are finding it difficult to look past Vikingur in this contest. The Icelandic outfit are on a run of five straight wins in all competitions, and we are expecting Gunnlaugsson's side to triumph in this match.

Previews by email

Top News

28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pendikspor vs. Kayserispor (Sunday, 2.00pm) Both Pendikspor and Kayserispor will be looking to boost their survival hopes when they meet at Pendik Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portimonense vs. Moreirense (Sunday, 3.30pm) The action continues in round 31 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Portimonense and Moreirense go head-to-head at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao on Sunday. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nijmegen vs. AZ (Sunday, 11.15am) Off the back of a first defeat in five matches last time out, NEC entertain the challenge of AZ Alkmaar at Stadion de Goffert on Sunday afternoon. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cadiz vs. Mallorca (Sunday, 1.00pm) Nuevo Mirandilla will play host to a huge La Liga clash on Sunday afternoon, with two clubs battling to stay in Spain's top flight, Cadiz and Mallorca, locking horns. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Milan vs. Torino (Sunday, 11.30am) Crowned Serie A champions with five games to spare, Inter Milan will continue their title celebrations on Sunday, when mid-table Torino visit San Siro. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Metz vs. Lille (Sunday, 12.00pm) Looking to extend their winning run in the top flight to three matches, Metz will welcome Champions League-chasing Lille to Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday afternoon in Ligue 1. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Mirren vs. Rangers (Sunday, 12.30pm) The second phase of the Scottish Premiership will kickstart this weekend with St Mirren hosting Rangers. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spurs vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 2.00pm) Looking to take the next step towards their first Premier League title in two decades, Arsenal will make the short trip across the capital to face fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Sunday afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have apparently been handed a significant boost in their hopes of signing Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who would welcome a switch to Old Trafford. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal reportedly hope to bring three or four new statement signings to the club this summer as part of another lavish spending spree. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will be bidding to emulate an achievement last managed by Ian Wright when the Gunners tackle Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's Premier League North London derby. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea saw a last-gasp winner ruled out but nevertheless completed an impressive comeback to hold Aston Villa to a 2-2 Premier League draw at Villa Park. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both Estrela Amadora and SC Farense will be looking to open up some daylight between themselves and the Primeira Liga relegation zone when they face off on Monday night. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth will attempt to equal a club record when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Vitality Stadium for Sunday's Premier League contest. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 34 of the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig concludes on Monday evening as Fatih Karagumruk host Antalyaspor at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League ever-presents Everton can look forward to another campaign in the big time thanks to a 1-0 win over Brentford at Goodison Park. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have made three changes for Saturday's Premier League fixture at Aston Villa. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has apologised to Sporting Lisbon supporters after admitting that the timing and publicity of his talks in London with West Ham United were "completely wrong". 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly hope to ward off Manchester United interest in one of their star defenders by offering him a lucrative contract renewal. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United have set a new Premier League scoring record after coming from behind to beat Sheffield United 5-1 at St James' Park on Saturday. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly running out of patience with one of their first-team attackers as their Premier League title fight ends with a whimper. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah made a cryptic "fire" comment after his touchline row with Jurgen Klopp in the Reds' 2-2 draw with West Ham United. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are prepared to part ways with four home-grown players this summer in order to retain Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain-linked defender Levi Colwill, according to a report. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be looking to strengthen their Premier League title when they face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are leading the race ahead of both Manchester City and Manchester United to sign Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Kaoru Mitoma this summer, according to a report. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United manager David Moyes has insisted that his side did not specifically target any aerial weaknesses in Liverpool's defence during their 2-2 draw at the London Stadium this afternoon. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rather than a glorious send-off for one of their greatest-ever managers, the story of Jurgen Klopp's final season as Liverpool boss is fast turning into what might have been. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jarrod Bowen has followed in the footsteps of Geoff Hurst and Paolo Di Canio after scoring in West Ham United's 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Premier League title chances effectively crashed and burned in a 2-2 draw with West Ham United at the London Stadium, where Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah were seen engaging in a touchline spat in the second half.