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Valur host Vllaznia at the Vodafonevöllurinn in Reykjavík, Iceland on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League encounter in the first qualifying round. This will be Valur's second attempt at reaching the competition, after falling in the second qualifying round last year to Bodo/Glimt. The Norwegian outfit crushed them 3-0 home and away to seal a 6-0 aggregate win in the tie.
The Icelandic outfit have reached the qualifiers after coming second in their top-flight campaign last year, finishing with 55 points from 27 games. Although champions Víkingur Reykjavík accrued 11 points more, the Valsarar secured a place in Europe after three years.
On the other hand, their rivals from Albania are looking to break the jinx and reach the UEFA Europa Conference League group stages at the fourth bite of the cherry. After back-to-back second-qualifying-round exits, the Kuq e Blutë fell at the first qualifier last year, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Northern Ireland's Linfield.
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Valur vs Vllaznia Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- This is the first official clash between the sides.
- The Kuq e Blutë have faced an Icelandic side once before in their history. They played KR in the first qualifying round of the 2001-02 UEFA Champions League, which they lost on away goals rule after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.
- Valur have failed to win any of their eight games in the European qualifiers, losing seven.
- Valur have failed to win any of their last four home games in the European qualifiers.
- Their rivals from Albania have lost their last five away games in European qualifiers, conceding three goals in three of those matches.
- Valur haven't played in Europe since the 1993-94 European Cup Winners' Cup, whereas their rivals from Albania were last seen at the 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Valur vs Vllaznia Prediction
Valur will be relying on their home support here as the Icelandic outfit look to gain an advantage in the tie by winning at home, although they haven't done that in their last four qualifiers in Reykjavík.
However, their visitors are not big hitters either, putting up mixed results on the road in Europe. Nonetheless, we expect a close battle between these minnows, with the hosts prevailing narrowly.
Prediction: Valur 1-0 Vllaznia
Valur vs Vllaznia Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Valur to win
Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: No
