Valur became the first team to qualify for this season’s Europa League after their success in the Icelandic Cup last year, but they won’t feel confident after a fairly poor performance in the Urvalsdeild last season and an even poorer one at the beginning of the new campaign.
Valur come into this game in 7th position in the Icelandic top flight and with just two wins from their last five outings. On the plus side they are still in with a shot of successfully defending their Iceland Cup after an extra time win over Vikingur Reykjavik recently.
However, they have had a fairly long hiatus from European football now, and their last campaign in the Europa League saw them knocked out in the first qualifying round by none other than Brondby back in the 2006/07 season.
Brondby have had plenty of participation in European football though, as they continue to challenge towards the top of the Danish Superliga despite their recent off the field problems.
The Danish giants have been involved in five of the last seven Europa League campaigns, but haven’t managed to make the knockout rounds in any of those. They have reached the playoffs three times during this period though, and they have plenty of experience getting to that point in the competition.
Brondby’s 4th place finish in the Superliga last season won’t have been what they were hoping for though, especially as they saw their arch rivals FC Copenhagen claim the title as they accumulated 17 more points than them.
They have managed to win seven of their last nine matches though, and in the Europa League they have only lost one of their last eight matches. However, away from home they have only won two of their last six in the Europa League and they have drawn four and lost one of their last five overall Europa League games.
The hosts have the added advantage of match fitness as well, as Brondby have been out of competitive action since the end of May. When combined with their home advantage and the fact that they managed a goalless draw at home to Brondby in their 2006 meeting I think the hosts have a chance. My prediction is for Valur to take something to Denmark with them, and odds of 13/8 for a Valur Win or Draw Double Chance look excellent value for money. I’m going for a 1-1 draw for my correct score prediction at 15/2.
Brondby Last Five Games
L Brøndby 1-2 Sonderjyske May 29, 2016 Danish SAS-Ligaen
W Hobro IK 0-2 Brøndby May 27, 2016 Danish SAS-Ligaen
L Brøndby 0-1 Viborg FF May 24, 2016 Danish SAS-Ligaen
W Esbjerg 2-3 Brøndby May 16, 2016 Danish SAS-Ligaen
W Randers FC 0-2 Brøndby May 12, 2016 Danish SAS-Ligaen
Valur Last Five Games
L Valur Reykjavik 0-1 BATE Borisov Jul 24, 2008 UEFA Champions League
L BATE Borisov 2-0 Valur Reykjavik Jul 15, 2008 UEFA Champions League
W Cork 1-0 Valur Reykjavik Jul 1, 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup
L Valur Reykjavik 0-2 Cork Jun 24, 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup
D Valur Reykjavik 0-0 Brøndby Jul 28, 2006 UEFA Cup
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