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Valur Rejkjavik vs FC Santa Coloma Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

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Valur Rejkjavik
FC Santa Coloma

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odds when tipped

Valur Rejkjavik vs FC Santa Coloma Predictions

Valur and Santa Coloma are two of the smallest teams in the UEFA Europa League and they will meet again on Thursday, with the tie hanging in the balance to decide who progresses into the next round. The winners will play the losers of the Champions League tie between Shkëndija of Macedonia and Moldovan club Sheriff Tiraspol.

Both sides won their domestic leagues last term but have already exited the premier European competition. Valur were strongly expected to win this tie but Andorran champions Santa Coloma caused a bit of an upset by defeating them 1-0 last week in the 1st Leg. Bjarni Eiríksson’s own goal settled the game and offers Santa Coloma a rare chance to make progress in Europe.

They’ve only ever previously won one European tie. That was against Banants of Armenia in 2014 and they’ve never won an away match in European competition. In fact they’ve only ever avoided defeat once on the road in Europe and they are regular participants as one of the strongest teams in the tiny state of Andorra.

Valur are still the favourites to make it through and they will fancy with home advantage they can turn it around. Unlike their opponents, they are mid way through the Icelandic league season and they are topping the table again and in good shape to claim another title. They can also take confidence from an impressive 1-0 home win against Norwegian champions Rosenborg a few weeks back in Champions League Qualifying.

Overall they are the stronger team and should come out on top in this one and odds of 1/8 for them to win this reflects that. However there is reason to think that Santa Coloma can at least make a game of it and it’s hard to see Valur running riot. The visitors have Andorran skipper Ildefons Lima at the heart of their defence and numerous other Andorran internationals in their ranks. That wouldn’t have meant a great deal in recent years but they really improved during World Cup qualifying picking up some impressive results, including a 1-0 win over Hungary.

Greater defensive stability was key to that improvement and Santa Coloma have improved defensively in Europe in recent years too. They’ve not conceded more than 3 goals in any of their last 12 European fixtures and that includes several games against teams stronger than Valur. However a record of 14 defeats from 15 away European matches still suggests they will lose on the night and that’s backed up by Valur winning 15 of their last 18 competitive home games.

Therefore backing Valur & Under 3.5 Goals looks to offer value.

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