Soccer

Dundalk aim to start latest European odyssey with a bang against Molde

The Dundalk players celebrate after their Europa League play-off victory over Faroese side KI Klaksvik at the Aviva Stadium earlier this month. This evening they face Norwegian outfit Molde in their first Group B game. Picture by PA
The Dundalk players celebrate after their Europa League play-off victory over Faroese side KI Klaksvik at the Aviva Stadium earlier this month. This evening they face Norwegian outfit Molde in their first Group B game. Picture by PA The Dundalk players celebrate after their Europa League play-off victory over Faroese side KI Klaksvik at the Aviva Stadium earlier this month. This evening they face Norwegian outfit Molde in their first Group B game. Picture by PA

Uefa Europa League Group B: Dundalk v Molde (tonight, 5.55pm, live on Virgin Media and BT Sport)

DUNDALK picked up one victory from six games the last time they played in the Europa League – and this evening’s Group B clash with Molde might represent their best chance of repeating the trick and landing another money-spinning victory four years on.

Back in 2016 the Lilywhites, then under current Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, found themselves in a tough group alongside Zenit St Petersburg, AZ Alkmaar and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, making their European breakthrough with a 1-0 win over the Israelis.

That night they were roared on by a full house at Tallaght Stadium, as opposed to the eerie sound of echoed voices expected at the same venue for this evening’s opener, with the Aviva Stadium unavailable because of Ireland's Six Nations clash with Italy on Saturday.

The Norwegians are first up for the League of Ireland champions in a group that also contains Arsenal and Rapid Vienna, and captain Chris Shields has urged Dundalk to think big as they get ready to embark on another adventure

"It's quite similar,” he said.

“Last time we drew Zenit, who I think were the highest-ranked team in the competition, and I believe Arsenal are this time as well, and then you look at Rapid Vienna and Molde... it's similar to the group we had in 2016, maybe.

"You've got to take each game as it comes, especially as these clubs will probably be more experienced in Europe than we are.

"But you can't go in expecting to get nothing or you'll get nothing. You have to go in hoping to win points, and that's what we'll be hoping as a group of players."

Eyebrows were raised when 49-year-old Italian Filippo Giovagnoli was appointed as Vinny Perth's replacement in August - his first senior managerial post - until the end of the domestic season.

However, Dundalk have lost only one of the nine games they have played in all competitions since, one of them the 3-1 victory over Faroese side KI Klaksvik which booked their Europa League berth.

Asked what would represent a realistic objective for the campaign, Giovagnoli said: "Get points everywhere, perform, do well, be competitive, show everyone that Dundalk deserve to be there and they can perform at a high level. This is our objective.

"It's a big privilege and we are really excited to be here. We just hope to do well and to make happy the fans, the town, all of Dundalk for all the support they are giving us."

Molde head coach Erling Moe has done his homework on their first opponents, and is expecting a testing evening in Dublin.

"We have been looking at them now for quite some time after the draw, so we think we have a good view on what Dundalk are,” said Moe.

"They have done well in Europe now and are a team that seems to have adapted a bit under the new coach, playing out from the back and they are quite strong going forward, so we expect a tough game tomorrow."