Back
Steffen Schmidt - July 12, 2023
Haka vs Crusaders
UEFA Conference League Qualification
Date: 13 July 2023, Thursday
Kick-off at 17:00 UK / 18:00 CET
Venue: Tehtaan kentta (Valkeakoski).
It’s been exactly 15 years since Haka have last played in Europe. They will make the return this Thursday with the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round against Northern Irish Crusaders.
The hosts enter the tie as big favorites despite being in an awful form in the domestic league.
Haka are winless in ten subsequent outings in all competitions. They are second from bottom in the Veikkausliiga standings with just 2 wins in 15 matches.
The team led by Teemu Tainio own by far the weakest defensive record in the Finnish top flight with 27 goals allowed in 15 matches. Haka shipped five goals in the last two league affairs against Oulu and Inter Turku.
The story is different with Crusaders who boosted their spirits with a 2-0 victory over Northern Irish champions Larne in the Super Cup match played at the start of the month.
Crusaders offered a strong resistance against Basel in the second qualifying round of the Conference League last year, losing 1-3 on aggregate on the occasion.
They had earlier eliminated Gibraltar’s Bruno’s Magpies despite losing the away leg 1-2. Crusaders’ matches generally offer goal fests and we would not be surprised to see one on Thursday considering Haka’s defensive form.
On another note, it is worth saying that Haka are undefeated at home this year. They won three and drew seven of ten home matches across competitions. Each of the last nine saw goals at both ends.
Haka are struggling badly in Finnish Veikkausliiga this season but they are still clear favorites in this matchup due to the difference in quality between the two teams.
Knowing how poor the hosts have been defensively so far in the season, we will back the Home win & Both Teams To Score bet at the attractive 3.75 odds. Alternatively, you can just go with the Over 2.5 goals FT pick at the odds of 1.85.
