IF Elfsborg vs Molde FK Prediction

Elfsborg will be, unfortunately, without one of their key players for this big game. Central midfielder Emmanuel Boateng was sent off in the dying embers of the first leg due to violent conduct - and being a straight red defines his absence for Elfsborg in the initial rounds of this further competition too, if they can miraculously qualify. The Swedes lack a midfielder who naturally plays on the right-hand side of the three-man midfield and so we expect Jimmy Thelin to field Alexander Bernhardsson in Boateng's role. Bernhardsson is a right-winger who will be well suited to this role. When it comes to the player to watch, winger Rasmus Alm made the most of his 68 minutes from the first leg as he opened the scoring for Thursday's home side. Alm will thus be one of the men to keep an eye on.

For Molde, all games have off-late been a battle of the midfield. Whenever the Norwegian side dominates the middle of the park, they certainly oust their opponents and in spectacular fashion. In the first leg too, four of their five midfielders were on the score-sheet as their forwards and defenders were disappointing in their respective roles. The five-man midfield of Haugen - Breivik - Mannsverk - Kaasa - Linnes is becoming stronger and stronger, day by day, in the Eliteserien and it will probably be on show when the side visits Sweden this Thursday. We would recommend particularly keeping an eye on Sivert Mannsverk, the classic number 8, who has been like a focal point for the visitors.