Preview: Hacken vs. KI Klaksvik - prediction, team news, lineups

The tie is all square after a goalless first leg in the Faroe Islands, and the Swedes will be confident of getting the job done in front of their home faithful.

Match preview

Despite having the lion's share of the possession and chances last week in the Faroe Islands, Hacken were unable to take an advantage back home ahead of a winner-takes-all clash on Wednesday.

The Swedes earned their place in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League after winning the Allsvenskan in 2022 - quite the achievement considering they finished 23 points off champions Malmo in the 2021 term.

Per-Mathias Hogmo's men are currently trailing league leaders Elfsborg domestically, but the Bravida Arena saw their side record a significant 3-1 success over Jimmy Thelin's charges on Saturday, with Tobias Sana, Mikkel Rygaard and Amor Layouni all getting on the scoresheet.

Starting their European adventure off in the first round of qualifying, Hacken beat Welsh champions The New Saints 5-1 on aggregate to set up a two-legged affair with Klaksvik.

The last time the Wasps made it to the third round of qualifying in a European competition was after seeing off Sparta Prague in the 2013-14 Europa League, although - unlike a decade ago - they will be favourites to advance.

That being said, Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands have been one of the most in-form sides in European football over the past few seasons, losing just one match in their domestic leagues over two title-winning campaigns.

KI won the Faroe Islands Premier League in 2022 as invincibles, winning 25 of their 27 league fixtures, meaning they only dropped four points throughout the entirety of a stellar season.

Magne Hoseth is enjoying his first spell in management outside of his native Norway since taking the reins at Klaksvik in December 2022, and the 42-year-old was guided his men to 16 straight league victories at the beginning of the 2023 campaign.

Like Hacken, Klaksvik entered this year's Champions League at the first round of qualifying, and after a goalless draw at home to Ferencvaros on July 11, Hoseth's men made the trip to the Hungarian champions a week later and recorded an outstanding 3-0 success courtesy of a Luc Kassi strike and a brilliant brace from Arni Frederiksberg.

Hacken Champions League form:

W

W

D

Hacken form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

D

W

KI Klaksvik Champions League form:

D

W

D

KI Klaksvik form (all competitions):

Team News

Hacken have a number of injury concerns ahead of the visit of the Faroese champions, with Ali Youssef set to be sidelined until late August due to a knee injury which has kept him from featuring so far in the 2023 term.

The Wasps are also set to be without the services of Ivorian Amane Romeo, after the 20-year-old picked up a groin strain during his side's 3-0 win over Mjallby on June 11.

Simon Gustafson played 44 minutes of Hacken's 2-0 victory over The New Saints in the first round of qualifying before being forced off with a thigh injury - the Swede is expected back in action at sometime this month.

Klaksvik may choose to employ a similar setup to the one which reaped major rewards away at Ferencvaros last month, meaning Claes Kronberg could drop to the bench to allow Frederiksberg and Kassi to play in attack together.

The visitors did well to keep the Swedish champions at bay last weekend, meaning a back three of Borge Petersen, Odmar Faero and Vegard Forren is likely to be utilised once again.

Hacken possible starting lineup:

Abrahamsson; Fridriksson, Hammar, Hovland, Hansen; Rygaard, Gustafson, Sana; Layouni, Sadiq, Sonko

KI Klaksvik possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Petersen; Faero, Forren; Danielsen, Hasson, Kassi, Andreasen, Joensen; Frederiksberg, Kronberg

We say: Hacken 1-0 KI Klaksvik (Hacken win 1-0 on aggregate)

Hacken will come into this match with high spirits after a convincing win over Swedish league leaders Elfsborg on Saturday, although they have a real battle on their hands to advance in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Previews by email