Breidablik skipper Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson: ‘This is the biggest European game this club has taken part in’

Macdara Ferris reports from Kopavogur in Iceland

For the captain of the Icelandic champions Breidablik, the second leg of today’s Champions League qualifier is the most important European match in the history of his club.

“It is the biggest European game this club has taken part in because with this champions path if you go through this first round you have three more ties,” said Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson when he spoke to this reporter on the eve of the game.

Breidablik earned their place in the first round qualifiers having come through the semi-final and final of the preliminary round.

The winner of today's will face FC Copenhagen in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

An Iceland v Denmark tie has added historical context with Iceland having been under the control of the Danish crown for centuries, with home rule granted in 1874 and independence from Denmark only in 1944.

“To have Copenhagen waiting in the next round for the winners is massive for us with the connection between Iceland and Denmark.

"It is ok to look at that fact and not shy away from it but we aren’t getting ahead of ourselves.

"We have to be at our best but knowing this carrot is in front of us, it drives us in a positive way.

“We had tonnes of respect for them,” said the eight times capped Icelandic international about Shamrock Rovers.

“They are a good team, keep the ball on the ground. They are quick. We knew (in Tallaght) we had to be at our absolute best to stand a chance of getting a positive result which we did. That is the same on Tuesday.

"We have to be 110% on our toes, like we were in the first leg.

“The focus is that we have to put aside that we have a 1-0 lead as that can put you on the backfoot. We know we are facing a good team who like to have the ball at their feet and have possession.

“There will be periods when we have to fall back, like in the first leg. I’m proud that we managed that in the second half – they had their moments but we had threats with counter-attacks. We were always going for it and not parking the bus.”

Champions League Qualifier Preview: Breidablik -v- Shamrock Rovers https://t.co/ygl7eHytoBpic.twitter.com/zAmxWcUoYn

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