Shelbourne vs BK Hacken Predictions

• Shelbourne have lost two of their last three European home games
• Hacken have already put out Anderlecht and Cluj in qualifying
• Both teams have scored in Shelbourne’s last three home games

Shels may be outclassed

Shelbourne have had a poor title defence in the League of Ireland but the one positive from their season is that they have reached the group stages of a European competition for the first time in their history, becoming just the third Irish team to do so.

After losses to Qarabag in Champions League qualifying and Rijeka in the Europa League equivalent, Shels eventually got over the line against Linfield to reach the group stage of the Conference League.

Hacken know the way to goal

Their first game sees them host Swedish side Hacken, who are another team making up for a poor domestic showing with strong continental performances.

The Wasps are midtable in the Allsvenskan but have beaten Anderlecht, Brann and Cluj along their qualification journey.

They have won two of the last three Swedish Cups, including last year’s, so clearly have a predisposition for cup competitions and look likely to be too strong for Shelbourne.

The visitors put seven past Cluj in their Conference League qualifier and are fancied to get the better of Shels, who were beaten comfortably at home by Qarabag and Rijeka in qualification.

The team who knocked Anderlecht out of Europa League qualifying should see off these opponents with a minimum of fuss.

Hacken have scored 24 goals in their last eight matches and are fancied to win this one 3-1.