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Aron Wright - July 17, 2018
Sarpsborg vs Vestmannaeyjar
Europa League First qualifying round
Date: Thursday, 19 July 2018
Kick-Off at 18:00 UK/ 19:00 CET
Venue: Sarpsborg Stadion (Sarpsborg).
IBV are back on the European scene for the first time in five years following the huge victory over FH in the Cup final in August last year. However, their life in Europa League is short lived after the demoralizing 4-0 defeat to Sarpsborg in the first leg at the home turf.
The Norwegian outfit were heavy favorites both on the night and over two legs and they’ll come into this high on confidence after netting four goals in a demolishing back-to-back victories. They sit at sixth in the Eliteserien ladder, but more importantly, raised the spirits before the Europa League affair with IBV.
Vestmannaeyjar ended the previous term in the bottom half of their domestic league standings.
It is fair to say that Sarpsborg were thriving in the final third in the last couple of weeks and it is really hard to see the Icelandic side stopping them from netting two or more goals again
The Icelandic side sit ninth after 12 rounds of the new Urvalsdeild season and they would have never actually reached the Europa League without the aforementioned cup title.
Goals should be guaranteed as five of Sarpsborg’s last six games saw the BTTS option “come in”.
Right winger Ole Jorgen Halverson successfully converted two penalties against Ranheim to take his league tally to five goals in this term of Eliteserien. He also added four assists in the process and stopping this 30-year-old Norwegian will be the main task for IBV’s defensive line.
Sarpsborg’s crushing 4-0 win last week is their only competitive meeting with IBV.
