Preview: HJK Helsinki vs. Molde - prediction, team news, lineups

Molde are starting their Champions League campaign in the second round of qualifying, while the Finnish side have already beaten Larne in Europe this season.

Match preview

HJK began their Champions League qualifying campaign with a 3-2 aggregate victory over the champions of Northern Ireland.

After claiming a narrow 1-0 home victory thanks to Bojan Radulovic's penalty, Larne played out a 2-2 draw in the away leg to set up a tie with Molde.

The task only gets harder for HJK, who have lost their last four ties in the second round of Champions League qualifying since beating FK Ventspils in the 2015-16 season.

The reigning Finnish champions have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent weeks, having lost just one of their last nine games.

HJK will be confident of recording a positive result on Tuesday, with their previous 14 Champions League qualifying home games producing eight wins, four draws and two defeats.

Molde, meanwhile, will head into their first European game of the season in fine form after they extended their unbeaten run to seven competitive games with a comfortable win over Sarpsborg on Saturday.

Eric Kitolano scored the second hat trick of his professional career to put Molde in complete control against Sarpsborg, before Mathias Lovik and Martin Linnes grabbed a goal apiece to round off a 5-0 victory.

Erling Moe's side will now turn their attention to Tuesday's contest where they will be looking to clinch a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions.

The omens are positive for the Norwegian side, who have won all of their previous five ties in the second round of Champions League qualifying.

Molde's only previous UEFA meeting with a Finnish team took place in August 2020 when they thrashed KuPS in a one-legged Champions League qualifying tie.

HJK Helsinki Champions League form:

W

D

HJK Helsinki form (all competitions):

D

D

L

W

D

W

Molde form (all competitions):

Team News

The hosts are still unable to call upon the services of defenders Oliver Pettersson and Valtteri Moren, who are both ruled out due to injury issues.

Joona Toivio is expected to start a third consecutive game, and the 35-year-old will be joined in a back three by Miro Tenho and Jukka Raitala.

After dropping to the bench at the weekend, Lucas Lingman, Pyry Soiri and Radulovic are expected to return to the starting lineup.

As for the visitors, they are still without the services of long-term injury absentee Martin Ellingson, who remains sidelined with a knee problem.

Eirik Haugan dropped to the bench at the weekend, but he could return to feature alongside Martin Bjornbak and Anders Hagelskjaer in the Molde backline.

Having scored five goals in the last three matches, Kitolano will be looking to continue his impressive form when he features up front on Tuesday.

HJK Helsinki possible starting lineup:

Iliev; Raitala, Tenho, Toivio; Soiri, Lingman, Kanellopoulos, Ollila; Olusanya, Keskinen, Radulovic

Molde possible starting lineup:

Karlstrom; Haugan, Bjornbak, Hagelskjaer; Knudtzon, Eriksen, Grodem, Breivik, Haugen; Kitolano, Brynhildsen

We say: HJK Helsinki 1-1 Molde

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