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: Shamrock Rovers vs. Breidablik - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 9 July 2023, 23:33
Shamrock Rovers will kick off their Champions League campaign when they welcome Icelandic side Breidablik to Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday night in the first qualifying round.

The Hoops earned their place in UEFA's elite club competition after winning the 2022 League of Ireland, while Breidablik were champions in their respective league last year.

Match preview

Shamrock Rovers are back in Champions League action following their title-winning campaign of 2022, with the Hoops finishing 13 points clear of second-placed Derry City in the final standings.

Stephen Bradley's men have won the last three league crowns in Ireland, but success for the club on the continental stage is a lot more limited.

The Hoops made their debut in the Europa Conference League group stage last season, the club's first appearance past the qualifying rounds of a European competition since they made a 2011-12 Europa League group which included Tottenham Hotspur and Rubin Kazan.

A section made up of Gent, Molde and Djurgarden IF proved too challenging for Bradley's side, with Shamrock only managing to collect two points in six matches.

Rovers are heading towards a fourth-straight title in Ireland this year, currently sitting four points ahead of second-placed St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland standings.

Breidablik have not been as consistent with earning league titles as their Irish opponents on Tuesday night, but the Icelandic outfit also won their domestic league in 2022 to secure a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Blikar finished 10 points clear of KA Akureyri last year, winning their first Besta Deildin crown since 2010, with that success over a decade ago being the club's only other league title.

Oskar Thorvaldsson's men had to win two matches in the preliminary round of qualifying to book a clash with Shamrock Rovers - a task which Breidablik made easy work of, thrashing Tre Penne Galazzano 7-1 before beating Buducnost Podgorica 5-0.

The furthest the Icelandic champions have ever been in European competition was the third qualifying round of the Europa League in 2013, although a penalty shootout loss against Latvian side FK Jelgava ended their continental journey on that occasion.

Shamrock Rovers form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

L

D

Breidablik Champions League form:

W

W

Breidablik form (all competitions):

Team News

Shamrock have a packed-out medical room ahead of a crucial Champions League meeting on Tuesday night, with Lee Grace and Jack Byrne both doubts due to muscle injuries.

Full-back duo Neil Farrugia and Trevor Clarke will definitely miss the match, with the defenders expected to be sidelined until late July and September respectively.

Breidablik are expected to name a similar XI to the one which breezed past Buducnost Podgorica in Kopavogur on June 30, with Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson looking to add to his three Champions League goals so far this season.

Stefan Sigurdarson has started his 2023 league campaign in blistering fashion, scoring 10 goals in just nine Besta Deildin starts, and the 22-year-old should be handed another start in Dublin on Tuesday.

Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:

Pohls; Lopes, Kavanagh, Cleary, Hoare; Poom, Nugent, Watts; Gaffney, Kenny, Burke

Breidablik possible starting lineup:

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

We say: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Breidablik

Shamrock are experiencing a mini-wobble in the League of Ireland but will be confident of putting recent struggles behind them with a victory over Breidablik in the first leg.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Albania and League B Group 1 leaders Czech Republic will lock horns on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that his club are not currently looking to bring in a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the striker in excellent form for the Catalan giants this season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be eyeing a debut for the Germany national team in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina in League A Group 3. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco is confident that the club will be able to sign Pedri to a new long-term contract. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has revealed that he is 'yet to hear anything' from Manchester United over his future. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As closely contested League B Group 1 nears its conclusion, promotion - and relegation - rivals Georgia and Ukraine will meet in Batumi on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina during the January transfer window. 14 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. 14 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. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada.