- Motherwell are the overwhelming favourites in the odds, but that doesn't mean this is a given.
- The hosts have lost two consecutive matches and are winless in five home matches (D2, L3).
- HB Torshavn are in excellent form with three wins from their last five and will come into this tie on the back of a three-game winning streak.
No time for complacency, Well
Motherwell are in a position to make a statement with their home advantage here, but they should beware of underestimating HB Torshavn, who arrive in Scotland in great form.
Motherwell are the heavy favourites at 1.1 and the market is certainly screaming home win, but we're going to add a goals caveat to the Motherwell victory angle.
It's still likely that Motherwell will finish the job here and advance, but we could be in for a real scrap if they allow their visitors a sniff at a surprise result by getting sloppy.
Well’s form is patchy
Motherwell's form coming into this one is patchy at best, with their last three results seeing a 0-1 away win at Hibernian followed by a 4-0 defeat to AGF Aarhus and a 3-4 home loss to Racing Genk.
Taking the longer view, Alfred Johansson's men have won two, drawn two and lost six of their last ten in all competitions, so this is far from a given despite the price.
HB Torshavn are in sharp form with a three-game win streak following wins over B36 Torshavn (2-1), Skala IF (2-0) and 07 Vestur Sorvagur (3-1), so it's worth giving them a shout.
A dangerous game if Motherwell leave gaps
HB's coach Andre Olsen will have his team set up to stay compact, counter quickly and make life ugly, so Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson needs his men to control the ball and raise the tempo.
Motherwell play a 4-2-3-1 system with possession and they should be able to pin HB back in their own half. However, they could leave gaps if the visitors break cleanly into space.
A Motherwell win is the likeliest outcome, but HB's recent form and counter threat gives this game a slight upset scent, so we're backing a home win with goals as the primary play. The fact that HB have scored ten goals in their last five away matches across all competitions is also notable and suggests that the visitors have the quality to make this a lively match.
Veteran No.10 Mathias Voss is their creative hub and he's been in top form with four assists in his last five appearances, so he will be key to how the game flows on Thursday.
