Shamrock Rovers vs Vikingur Reykjavik

Tallaght Stadium sets the stage for a ‘make or break’ Champions League qualifying return-leg tie between Shamrock Rovers and Vikingur Reykjavik.

Shamrock’s quest to secure Champions League group stage qualification last season ended at this stage at the hands of Vikingur’s domestic rivals Breidablik. Though that’s an ominous sign, the Rovers fared well in the first leg in Iceland, pulling off a precious 0-0 draw to bolster their hopes of progression. However, the hosts’ recent form can’t inspire much confidence, with Stephen Bradley’s side picking up just one win across their last four competitive matches (D1, L2), largely thanks to a misfiring frontline. The Hoops failed to score more than once in all four, which has been the case in their last six European fixtures on home turf (W1, D2, L3). As all those six matches featured under 2.5 total goals, it’s only natural to assume that another low-scoring encounter could be in store.

Visiting Vikingur must defy a dreadful piece of history to reach the Champions League second qualifying round for the first time. The visitors have never won a European game on foreign soil (D2, L9), conceding 2+ goals in ten of those 11 fixtures. Though this is their first visit to Ireland, they’re familiar with the territory, having faced Welsh side TNS in Europa Conference League qualifying in 2022/23 (2-0 H, 0-0 A). Despite Vikingur’s perennial struggles on the continental front, manager Arnar Gunnlaugsson can realistically hope to inspire the Icelandic outfit to a historic away European win, having overseen a six-game unbeaten streak on the road (W4, D2) in the lead-up to this journey.