Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Rosenborg welcome Hafnarfjordur at their Lerkendal Stadion in the return leg of the Conference League second qualifying round. The Troillongan won the first leg by two goals to nil, and they are now eyeing their fifth consecutive win in all competitions. Rosenborg have found their best form of late, and, as a result, the bookies see them as favourites to win the second leg. Head coach Age Hareide should field the best possible side after resting several first-team regulars in the Norwegian Cup triumph (7-0) over Melhus.
Keep in mind that all Augustinsson, Henriksen, Molins, and Skjelbred have been struggling with injuries of late. Hafnarfjordur, on the other hand, must be low on confidence ahead of the trip to Trondheim, and given their shaky defence, anything but a routine home win would be a major surprise. A man to watch in the away team will be Scotland international Steven Lennon, who scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Akranes at the weekend.
Highlighted Player (Markus Henriksen):
Markus Henriksen is a Norwegian footballer who was born in Trondheim on 25 July, 1992. As expected, he played for his hometown club Rosenborg during his youth career and he made no less than 78 league appearances for the Troillongan at senior level. He scored 11 league goals for the club from 2009 to 2012 and he won two domestic trophies with the Norwegian outfit (2009, 2010).
On 31 August, 2012 he signed a five-year deal with AZ Alkmaar for a fee of €2 million. Henriksen made his AZ debut on 16 September, 2012 in a 4-0 win over Roda and he quickly established himself as a first-team regular. The attacking midfielder has nine caps for Norway U21 team and he made his debut for the first team in a 2-1 loss to Croatia on 12 October, 2010.
On 31 August, 2016 he signed a loan deal with Hull City, which should be made permanent in 2017. You should have in mind that Henriksen is capable of playing as both central midfielder and a defensive midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (Rosenborg):
Rosenberg are undisputedly the most famous Norwegian club. The Troillongan have participated in the Champions League group stages on several occasions and they are the dominant force in the Norwegian Premier League. Rosenborg won their 24th (record) domestic title in 2016, with the team finishing the season 15 points clear of second-placed Brann.
The Norwegian side are well known for their black and white kits and Lerkendal Stadion is the club’s home ground. The capacity of the venue is 21.405 and the stadium was opened back in 1947. John Carew is the most notable footballer who played for Rosenborg in the past and it has to be noted that the powerful centre-forward scored 18 goals in 18 appearances in the league for the Troillongan.
Nowadays Nicklas Bendtner wears Rosenborg shirt, but he did not help the Norwegian champions make it to the Champions League group stages. Rosenborg eliminated Dundalk in the second qualifying round, but Scottish side Celtic proved to be a big catch for Kare Hedley Ingebrigtsen’s troops in round 3.