Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Rosenborg
Match Time & Date:
23/08/2018
19:45 GMT
Prediction: 3-0
Shkendija
Rosenborg failed to book their place in the Champions League group stages and, as a result, they are eager to save their European campaign with a win over Shkendija in the Europa League play-off. The Troillongan faced no difficulties in the double-header against Cork City and it is no surprise they are considered hot favourites to win Thursday’s football match against Shkendija. Experienced attacker Nicklas Bendtner has been struggling to find his goal-scoring touch of late, but he is definitely capable of making life difficult for the opposition defenders. Shkendija experienced all sorts of problems at the back in the Champions League two-legged tie against Salzburg, therefore, we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Rosenborg’s party at Lerkendal Stadion. You should bear in mind that Shkendija suffered a heavy 6-0 loss to Milan in their last away game in the Europa League.
Highlighted Player (Nicklas Bendtner):
Over the years Nicklas Bendtner has established himself as one of the best Danish footballers. The 194-cm tall striker, who is very good in the air, started his senior career at Arsenal and he scored his first goal at the Emirates Stadium in a pre-season match against Paris Saint-Germain. Nicklas Bendtner scored 24 goals in 108 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s troops in the English top flight and after ending his loan spells with the likes of Birmingham City, Sunderland and Juventus, he moved to Germany in the summer of 2014 and signed a three-year deal with Wolfsburg. Bendtner made his Bundesliga debut on August 30, coming as a substitute in a 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. After spending two seasons at Wolfsburg, the Denmark international joined Championship side Nottingham Forest on September 7, 2016. Nicklas Bendtner, though, made only 15 appearances in the English second tier for the Reds and it has to be noted that he scored two goals for the City Ground outfit in the 2016/2017 season. In March 2017 the Danish attacker signed a contract with Norwegian side Rosenborg for an undisclosed fee. Nicklas Bendtner represented Denmark at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and he score one goal for the Danes at the showpiece tournament in South Africa.
Highlighted Team (Rosenborg):
Rosenborg 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.
Arsenal
Stade Rennes
Benfica
Dinamo Zagreb
Slavia Prague
Sevilla
Dynamo Kyiv
Chelsea
Red Bull Salzburg
Napoli
Inter Milan
Eintracht Frankfurt
