Tromsø IL
- Tromsø have made their home ground a fortress with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from their last 6 outings there in all competitions.
- They are averaging 2.33 goals scored per-game during this period, but they are conceding 1.33 per-game as well, so there's still some scope for improvement at the back.
FC Hradec Králové
- Hradec Králové are fresh, having won 3 of their last 5 matches (D1, L1).
- Hradec Králové have been scoring and conceding an average of 1.40 goals per-match away from home during this current spell, a balanced but beatable profile.
Key Players
- Jørgen Vik has kept the Tromsø IL side pragmatic and adaptable, able to play with a compact 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, but always with the aim of stretching the field and overloading the flanks.
- David Horejs has drilled them into the habit of a disciplined mid-block, with selective pressing and rapid vertical transitions, and that's exactly what they will be looking to do in this clash.
- Their fulcrum is Vladimír Darida, the type of ball- and game-controller who can change the course of a tight game in a single transition or set-piece situation.
Betting Insights
- Tromsø IL are slight favorites at 1.71, though the draw stands at 3.6 in this tough-to-call UEFA Europa League qualification.
- On the road, we think that the hosts will get the better of the 50-50 battle, so we're going with Tromsø and Under 2.5 goals & Both Teams to Score - No at 1.67 and 1.7 respectively.
Prediction
This Thursday's UEFA Europa League qualification fixture between Tromsø IL and FC Hradec Kralove has all the ingredients of a close, cagey game, but the Norwegians can just edge out a victory.
