The SM gold has been won for Häcken and next year’s European qualification is practically secured.
Tonight’s opponent Molde, on the other hand, must fight to the last in the Tippeligan to be allowed to play in Europe next year.
Now Häcken should bet everything on the double meeting against Molde and go for third place in the group.
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Tonight at 18.45 Häcken and Molde meet at Aker stadium. In a fortnight it is time for the return meeting in Gothenburg.
Battle for third place
Both teams are on zero points after opening losses against Bayer Leverkusen and Azeri Qarabag. The doubleheader will most likely decide who takes third place in the group and gets to continue in the Conference League in February. For Leverkusen and Qarabag occupy the first two places in the group, and there is little to suggest that they will drop points against the Scandinavian clubs in the remaining games either.
Gives 15 million extra
Häcken is in a good position to bet everything in the two games against Molde. A victory and a cross there gives a third place in the group and an extra 1.3 million euros (just over SEK 15 million). That would give Häcken a total of around 8 million euros (just under 95 million kroner) for the European adventure.
In addition, you get the chance to take valuable ranking points if you do well in the Conference League playoffs. It can give seeding further into next year’s qualifiers, which should make it easier to get to a new group stage.
The SM gold is done
Allsvenskan, Häcken can take it easy. The gold is already gone. You have to take six points at Elfsborg and four at Malmö FF in three games – you don’t do that. The betting companies agree and give fifty times the money for a second straight SM gold to Hisingen.
A new European qualification next season has already been secured in practice. Djurgården are seven points and 23 goals behind. It is enough for a draw in the final three (Mjällby, Malmö FF and Brommapojkarna) for third place to be fully secured.
The difference between coming second and third in the Allsvenskan is significantly smaller than it is between coming third and fourth in the Europa League group. A second place in the Allsvenskan gives a big silver instead of a small one and a chance for Europa League qualification (if the SC winner also wins the cup) instead of the Conference League. Moving on in Europe gives about SEK 15 million, valuable experience and the chance to improve one’s seeding position next year through a higher ranking.
Molde outside Europe
Opponents Molde are in a significantly worse position than Häcken. They have to make an extremely good finish in the Eliteserien to get the European qualification again, while at the same time they do not intend to give up the Europa League.
At yesterday’s press conference in Molde, coach Erling Moe said that neither the European Cup nor the league will be de-prioritized, they are going all out for both. But prioritizing everything also means prioritizing nothing.
For Molde, which competes with Bodö/Glimt for the title of Norway’s best team, it is of the utmost importance to get the chance in Europe again next year. They have qualified for Europe for the last six years and been in the group stage for the last two. They need to collect seven points in five games to pass the fourth place that gives European qualification.
In the long run, it is more important for Molde to secure a place in the European qualifiers next year than to advance in this year’s Europa League.
Second chance in the cup
Molde also has a second chance to take a European place when the Norwegian Cup final is played on December 9 – the weekend after the Elite Series ends. But washing the league and betting everything on beating Bodø/Glimt – league leaders and Norway’s best team in recent years – is not something that is recommended.
2023-10-26 09:39:26
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