Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Breidablik vs. Copenhagen - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 23 July 2023, 12:34
Icelandic champions Breidablik will be aiming to cause a major upset against their Nordic opponents Copenhagen in the second round of Champions League qualifying on Tuesday.

The visitors, meanwhile, progressed to the group stage of this competition for the first time in six seasons last time around.

Match preview

Having won their second ever Besta deild karla (Iceland's top-flight division) title last season, Breidablik are competing in the Champions League for only the second time in their history.

Managed by three-time Iceland international Oskar Hrafn Porvaldsson since 2020, the 49-year-old built on finishing second in 2021 by leading his side to a comfortable 10-point margin last time out, helping them qualify for Europe's elite competition in the process.

Blikar caused a major storm by defeating another Nordic opponent in the form of Rosenborg 2-0 at this same qualifying stage in the 2011-12 campaign, before crashing out with a 5-0 defeat in Trondheim.

Breidablik have enjoyed quite the journey already in this season's competition, winning all four matches that they have played against champions from San Marino, Montenegro and Republic of Ireland, and they will hope that lightning strikes twice when they face Copenhagen at Kopavogsvollur on Tuesday.

Copenhagen, meanwhile, enjoyed an extremely successful season last time out, as they won the domestic double to move level on the record number of triumphs in both competitions' history.

Jacob Neestrup's side gave a decent enough account of themselves in the Champions League group stage, too, remaining unbeaten at home against Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund, but losing all three away games without scoring a goal saw them crash out in bottom position.

Copenhagen have only once made it out of the group stage of this competition, when losing 2-0 on aggregate to Chelsea in the last-16 during the 2010-11 campaign, but even making it to that stage represents an excellent achievement for a club of their status.

However, after kicking-off their domestic season with a 2-1 win away to Lyngby on Saturday, Neestrup and his players will firmly expect to comfortably progress across two legs against their Icelandic opponents.

Breidablik Champions League form:

W

W

W

W

Breidablik form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

W

Copenhagen Champions League form:

Copenhagen form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

D

Team News

Breidablik will remain without attacking midfielder Patrik Johannesen due to a serious knee injury, but otherwise Porvaldsson should have a clean bill of health to select from.

The former Grotta manager is unlikely to make any changes from the side that defeated Shamrock Rovers 2-1 last week, meaning club captain Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson should lead his side once again after scoring in that match.

Copenhagen, meanwhile, will travel without Viktor Claesson and David Khocholava due to injury, but Nicolai Boilesen has been involved in training recently and could make the trip.

Isak Bergmann Johanesson was only used from the bench at the weekend, and he could start in his homeland here in place of Rasmus Falk.

Breidablik possible starting lineup:

Einarsson; Gunnlaugsson, Margeirsson, Muminovic, Yeoman; Sigurdarson, Sigurjonsson, Einarsson; Svanthorsson, Steindorsson, Eyjolfsson

Copenhagen possible starting lineup:

Grabara; Jelert, Vavro, Lund, Diks; Lerager, Clem, Johanesson; Larsson, Cornelius, Goncalves

We say: Breidablik 0-1 Copenhagen

Breidablik will be reminiscing about their victory against Rosenborg at this stage 12 years ago, but we expect Copenhagen to keep them at arm's length for the majority of the contest.

However, the Danes have not been great travellers in this competition down the years, and they may have to wait until the reverse leg to completely wrap up this tie.

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly joined the race for Atalanta BC attacker Ademola Lookman, with the Red Devils potentially battling Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fortuna Sittard will be looking to secure a fourth home win on the bounce when they take on Twente at the Offermans Joosten Stadion in round 13 of the Eredivisie on Saturday. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Monaco vs. Brest (Friday, 6.00pm) The first game in Ligue 1 since the final international break of 2024 will see Monaco welcome Brest to the Stade Louis II on Friday night. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night.