St. Mirren host Valur at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on Thursday for the second leg of their clash in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round. The tie is finely poised right now after the sides played out a goalless draw last week.
Playing a European game for the first time since 1987, the Saints cut a toothless figure in Iceland, with Valur even reduced to 10 men as Aron Johannsson was sent off in the 81st minute.
However, Stephen Robinson's side were unable to break them down, and had to settle for a goalless stalemate. St. Mirren fans were joyous to see their club play a European game after 37 years, but it failed to live up to the expectations.
The Scottish team will be looking to pick themselves up on home turf when they face Valur again. The Valsarar are looking to qualify for a major club tournament for the first time since 1992, but tend to struggle away from home in qualifier games.
St. Mirren vs Valur Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- This is just the second official clash between the sides in history.
- In their previous two appearances against a Scottish team, Valur had lost on every occasion: a 9-0 aggregate defeat to Celtic in the 1975-76 European Cup Winners' Cup, and a 7-0 aggregate loss to Aberdeen in the 1993-94 edition of the same tournament.
- Valur have lost eight of their last nine away games in Europe, but won their most recent one: a 4-0 win over Albania's Vllaznia.
- St. Mirren are playing in Europe for the first time since their participation in the 1987-88 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
- In their last six games, Valur have won just twice.
- Valur are looking to keep a clean sheet in their third consecutive European game, having kept one against Vllaznia in the second leg and against St. Mirren last week.
St. Mirren vs Valur Prediction
St. Mirren could feel they are in uncharted waters here as the Scottish team are playing after a long break, but they put up a good resistance against Valur in the first leg.
The Icelandic side have a terrible record away from home in Europe, and it may come back to haunt them here.
Prediction: St. Mirren 1-0 Valur
St. Mirren vs Valur Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: St. Mirren to win
Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: No