HJK vs Molde

Bolt Arena forms the backdrop for the first leg of HJK Helsinki’s Champions League qualification quarter-final tie against Molde.

HJK’s effort to reach the Champions League group stages for the first time in the new millennium was off to a rather scary start as they had to survive extra-time drama to dispatch Northern Irish side Larne 3-2 on aggregate. ‘Klubi’ followed that unconvincing success with a narrow 1-0 home win over domestic rivals Ilves to stay within touching distance of Veikkausliiga pacesetters SJK after going winless in three consecutive league games beforehand (D2, L1). But despite winning three of their last four competitive outings by an identical 1-0 scoreline (L1), the reigning Finish champions must beat the odds here to avenge a 1-0 loss from their only previous meeting with Molde in the 21st century. Scoring first might help, considering they’ve only conceded once in their last five home matches.

In the meantime, Molde will take this trip in a buoyant mood after stitching together a four-game winning streak, bookended by a scintillating 5-1 romping of fellow Eliteserien rivals Sarpsborg 08 last time out. Since an underwhelming 1-0 defeat at Odd in early June, the defending Norwegian champions have gone into overdrive, racking up seven straight games without losing (W6, D1), not to mention they’ve scored at least twice in the last six. However, Molde cannot afford to rest on their laurels, given their patchy away form that’s seen their three most recent travels alternate between different outcomes (W1, D1, L1). Two of those three games featured a goal beyond the 75th minute, suggesting a late drama could be on the cards.