- Home form: Tromsø have made Romssa Arena a fortress again, going 4-1-1 in their last 6 home games in all competitions.
- Away form: Hradec Králové have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 matches, winning 2, drawing 1 and losing 2 of their last 5 away in all competitions.
- Home goals: Tromsø are averaging 2.33 goals scored and 1.33 goals conceded per home game across all competitions.
Tight and cagey matchup on the cards
Tactical overview:
A tactical chess match is on the agenda in Norway when Tromsø IL look to follow up two recent wins with a third against Hradec Králové of the Czech Republic on Thursday. Jørgen Vik has his Tromsø side playing a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system that is pragmatic and adaptable, with a compact base and a width-led attack that has done some damage of late.
Form and edge:
Hradec Králové's 3-0 home thrashing of FC Nordsjaelland and 1-1 draw with Wolfsberger AC last week have shown they can both hit hard and show grit when needed, and we think the home side will have the edge in this one. David Horejs has his Hradec team drilled in a disciplined mid-block with selective pressing and fast vertical transitions.
They are a little sharper in all comps, going 6-2-2 over their last 10, but have been more vulnerable to the odd away defeat than Tromsø, who are slight favorites at 1.71. The draw is 3.6 and Hradec Kralove are a massive 4.68 to take the win, but we're going to stick with the home team for this clash.
Tromsø can edge a tight game
The main difference in this game will be how the respective coaches play the tempo.
Tromsø are a better bet at the odds and we're taking them to edge what looks like a very close game, with the under 2.5 goals at 1.67 and Both Teams to Score – No at 1.7 also appealing in this tight matchup.
- Tromsø have been in great form of late, winning 2 and drawing 1 at home, and their recent results include a 4-1 blowout of Orgryte IS and 4-0 blowout of Vålerenga IF Oslo, so Vik has no problem rolling the dice.
- Hradec have the Czech top flight's best central playmaker in midfielder Vladimír Darida, who can change the course of a close game with one piece of magic, either in transition or on a set piece.
- The away side are a bit more conservative on their travels, scoring 1.40 and conceding 1.40, which suggests that they are solid, but beatable.
