Champions League Preview: Dundalk -v- Rosenborg

DUNDALK

A sold-out Oriel Park plays host to Dundalk's return to European action as the Lillywhites entertain Norwegian side Rosenborg in their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round first leg on Wednesday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Stephen Kenny’s side have been in impeccable form since the mid-season break, last week’s 1-0 win over Bohemians marked their fifth consecutive win and clean sheet.

The Louth club launched their European adventure at this stage last season by eliminating FH of Iceland on away goals, which set up a clash with BATE Borisov.

Speaking to the media at Oriel Park ahead of the clash, Kenny seemed glad of the break between games.

“Preparations have been good. I can’t fault anything in that regard. We’ve had a break between games, which is what we’d have wanted,” Kenny said.

“We don’t have the heavy injury list that we had earlier in the season – we’ve everybody fully fit for tomorrow which is a boost.”

Having played just one European tie at Oriel Park last season, Kenny spoke about the restriction facing the club.

“[Selling out] is the least we could expect, we could have sold double the amount, but it’s where we are as a club.

“It’s disappointing that we’ve only 3,500 seats. It’s great to have the Champions League tie in Dundalk - it’s where the sole of the club is.”

With a clean bill of health, Dundalk are expeted to start with a back-four Gannon, Vemmelund, Gartland and Massey which has served the team well in recent weeks.

Tougher decisions will be made in attacking options, with the addition of Dylan Connolly giving Dundalk an exciting option, though perhaps it’s unlikely that the hour the winger played last week will have ensured his place in the starting XI.

Both legs of the tie will be aired live on RTÉ2.
 

ROSENBORG

The Norwegian champions arrive in Dundalk having failed to qualify for the Champions League since 2007/08, having featured 11 times in 13 seasons between 1995 and 2007.

Last season, the side nicknamed ‘Troillongan’ were knocked out of both the Champions League and Europa League in qualifying.

Kåre Ingebrigtsen has since added 29-year-old former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, whose six goals so far this campaign see his side sit five points clear at the summit of the rebranded Eliteserien after sixteen games.

With 24 league titles to their name, the Trondheim-based club are the most successful Norwegian club, however, having qualified for the group stage of either European competition just three times from 11 attempts, they have faced relative difficulties in recent times.

On-loan attacker Milan Jevtovi? is another who has fired a half-dozen goals this season, while they are captained by Danish international midfielder Mike Jensen. Expect a 4-3-3 formation fronted by Bendtner from the visitors.

Referee: Radu Marian Petrescu (Romania)

MATCH STATS

Dundalk won just twice in 12 outings in European competition last season(W2, D4 L6)

Sean Maguire’s hat trick in early June are the only goals the Lilywhites have conceded in the last 10 games, having won eight times, drawn once and scored 25.

Dundalk captain Stephen O’Donnell played regularly with Nicklas Bendtner in the Arsenal reserves in 2004-2005, Bendtner has since gone on to win 74 caps for Denmark.

BETTING

Dundalk 11/4; Draw 5/2 ; Rosenborg 6/7 .

PREDICTION

Dundalk 1-1 Rosenberg

Dundalk

Injured: None.

Doubtful:None.

Suspended: None.

Rosenborg

Injured: None

Doubtful: Magnus Stamnestro.

Suspended: None.