ST MIRREN will embark on their first European campaign in 37 years as they travel to Reykjavík on Thursday night. Opponents Valur are already a few months into their league season, and their extra sharpness may show.
After finishing sixth the year before, St Mirren managed to do one better last season and finish fifth in the Scottish Premiership table.
With the Old Firm sweeping up both domestic cups, fifth place was enough to qualify for Europe, The Buddies first European campaign since being knocked out of the 1987-88 Cup Winners’ Cup by eventual winners KV Mechelen.
Valur have already got their European campaign underway, as they defeated Albanian side Vllaznia Shkodër 6-2 on aggregate.
Domestically, after winning just one of their opening four league matches, Arnar Grétarsson’s men have gone on to win seven of their next 10 (W7-D2-L1), to move them up into third, five points behind leaders Víkingur with a game in hand.
How the bookies view it: Value in Valur?
Despite being away from home, St Mirren have been priced up as slight favourites here, with an away win priced at 6/4 by Betfred. A victory for the hosts is priced at 13/8, while Betfred is also offering odds of 13/5 for a stalemate in the first leg.
Head to head: First Meeting Between the Club’s
With this being the first time St Mirren have qualified for Europe since the 1987/88 season, it comes as no surprise this is the first meeting between the sides.
Players to watch: Pedersen to Pounce Again?
Valur’s leading scorer is Patrick Pedersen, with The Dane scoring an impressive 12 goals across his 16 appearances in the league and in Europe this season.
Mikael Mandron was The Buddies leading scorer last season, and the Frenchman may be St Mirren’s leading contender for a goal.
Probable line-ups
Valur’s league match with Fram was postponed on Monday, so the Icelandic side may name the same starting 11 as the one that emphatically claimed a 0-4 victory in Albania in the previous round.
James Scott came off the bench to net in St Mirren’s 2-2 friendly draw with Carlisle at the weekend and may come in from the start in Reykjavík.
Valur: Schram, Eyjólfsson, Gunnarsson, Pálsson, K. Sigurðsson, G. Sigurðsson, Antonsson, Jónsson, Lárusson, Pedersen, Tryggvason
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Bwomono, Smyth, Boyd-Munce, O’Hara, Brown, Olusanya, Mandron
Anything else catch the eye?
Despite playing one game fewer than all bar one of their opponents, Valur are the leading scorers in the Icelandic top flight, slamming in 36 goals across their opening 14 matches.
Arnar Grétarsson’s hosts also scored six goals across both legs in the previous round, meaning they have now scored two or more goals in each of their previous 12 league and European contests and are priced up at 59/50 at Unibet to bag another double.
What’s more, Over 2.5 Goals has banked in each of those last 12 matches – with Over 3.5 Goals even landing in all bar one of them – with four or more goals priced up at 17/10, also at Unibet.
This UEFA Europa League Conference match between Valur and St Mirren will be played on Jul 25, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Valur vs St Mirren prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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