Lillestrom vs. Torreense - prediction, team news, lineups

Lillestrom and Torreense volition marque their Europa League league-phase debuts connected Thursday, erstwhile some sides look each different astatine Arasen connected matchday one.

The Norwegian second-tier champions came done the playoff circular to scope this signifier successful the caller format for the archetypal time, portion their Portuguese second-tier opponents became the 3rd side, aft Beira-Mar and Leixoes, to suffice for the Europa League.

Match preview

Luis Tralhao whitethorn not judge his luck erstwhile helium leads Torreense retired connected Thursday for their European debut distant astatine Lillestrom.

Only appointed successful January this year, the Portuguese manager needed conscionable 5 months to marque past with the club, defeating two-time Taca de Portugal defending champions Sporting Lisbon 2-1 successful the decider to unafraid a maiden home cupful triumph astatine the Lisbon heavyweights' expense.

Consequently, the triumph meant that SCUT became the archetypal nine extracurricular the apical formation to scope the main signifier of the revised Europa League, and they anticipation to get their archetypal quality astatine this level disconnected to an encouraging start.

Nonetheless, the signifier Tralhao's men transportation into this year's contention does small to promote their aspirations, arsenic they person secured conscionable 1 triumph from six second-tier games and 1 occurrence successful 7 successful each competitions, losing 2 and 3 respectively.

Upon person inspection, lone their 3-0 decision astatine location to Vizela marked the lone clip that Torreense person been resoundingly beaten by immoderate of their opponents crossed each competitions this term, pointing to a broadside that volition ever beryllium competitory adjacent if results whitethorn not spell their way.

Indeed, those battling qualities volition beryllium required successful their archetypal distant lucifer successful Europe successful the club's history, erstwhile they question to Oslo to look Lillestrom.

Hans Erik Odegaard's men are present successful the Norwegian Eliteserien, but they reached the Europa League league signifier owing to their occurrence successful the First Division.

By claiming the second-tier title, Fugla not lone returned to the apical formation but besides qualified for the Europa League playoff round, wherever they needed to travel done Egnatia to scope the league signifier for the archetypal time.

Having held the Albanian broadside to a goalless gully successful Rrogozhine, the Canaries past trailed successful Oslo until Sander Moen Foss's 82nd-minute equaliser forced other time.

They scored the winning extremity conscionable 4 minutes into the further 30 minutes done substitute Thomas Lehne Olsen, thereby guaranteeing Kanarifugla's information successful this season's competition.

Further boosting their assurance is their ongoing three-match winning tally crossed each competitions, scoring 7 goals and conceding conscionable 1 successful wins implicit Aurskog/Finstadbru, Brann and Valerenga, which stands the Canaries successful bully stead earlier facing chap debutants Torreense connected matchday one.

Lillestrom signifier (all competitions):

Torreense signifier (all competitions):

Team News

The hosts are apt without the services of Camil Jebara owed to a reported groin issue, arsenic good arsenic Karl Linus Alperud owed to a thigh complaint; however, Espen Bjorsen Garnas's genu wounded volition beryllium assessed earlier Thursday's contest.

Fredrik Gulbrandsen has already netted six league goals this term, intimately followed by Felix Va and Olsen connected 5 apiece, and each 3 men volition purpose to beryllium decisive against this weekend's visitors. 

Torreense person a mostly steadfast squad, adjacent though Tralhao indispensable marque bash without Manuel Pozo Guerrero, whose ankle contented whitethorn regularisation him retired of the fixture. 

Taca de Portugal match-winner Stopira is inactive astatine the club, and the 38-year-old, who was an unused substitute for Cape Verde astatine the 2026 World Cup, should commencement astatine centre-back.

Dany Jean, however, is the distant side's starring attacking threat, and the wide attacker volition anticipation to adhd to his 2 goals this season. 

Lillestrom imaginable starting lineup:

Dahlberg; Ranger, Foss, Gabrielsen, Elkaer; Ibrahimaj, Kitolano, Nyheim; Bassi, Gulbrandsen, Va

Torreense imaginable starting lineup:

Adriel; Bruno, Diadie, Stopira, Vazquez; Oudrhiri, Alfaro; Quintero, Jatta, Jean; Drammeh

We say: Lillestrom 2-1 Torreense

While it is hard to look beyond a Lillestrom victory, fixed their signifier and momentum heading into Thursday's match, Torreense's inclination to beryllium competitory should marque matchday one's brushwood 1 to watch.

The hosts are backed to unafraid a constrictive triumph connected location turf to statesman their continental travel connected a affirmative enactment astatine the disbursal of the Portuguese second-tier club.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.