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Stjarnan and Linfield will trade tackles in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League first-round qualification tie on Thursday. The hosts are coming off a 1-1 draw away to KR Reykjavik in the Icelandic Besta deild karla over the weekend.
They went ahead through Haukur Orn Brink's 35th-minute strike while Axel Andresson drew the game level deep into injury time.
Linfield, meanwhile, saw off Galway with a 1-0 victory in a friendly on Saturday. Ethan McGee's 43rd-minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The Blues will turn their focus to the continent, having secured their spot at this stage of the Conference League qualifiers courtesy of their runners-up finish in the NIFL Premiership last term. Stjarnan finished third in the Icelandic league last season to get to this stage.
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The winner of this tie will face either Bala Town or Paide Linnameeskond in the second round of the qualifiers.
Stjarnan vs Linfield Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
- Four of Stjarnan's last five games have witnessed goals at both ends.
- Linfield are winless in their 10 away qualification games in UEFA competitions (eight losses).
- Five of Stjarnan's last six qualification games in UEFA club competitions have produced three goals or more.
- Linfield have won just one of their last six competitive games (four draws).
- Stjarnan have won five of their last seven home games (one loss).
- Seven of Linfield's last eight games have seen both sides find the back of the net.
Stjarnan vs Linfield Prediction
Stjarnan are competing in the Conference League for the second time in their history. They will be hoping their fortunes this time around are better than last time out when they were eliminated at this stage by Bohemians.
Linfield's games tend to be entertaining and both sides typically create goalscoring chances. They have tended to struggle on their travels in UEFA qualification games and they are slight underdogs in this game on paper.
Stjarnan have been in league action over the last few months and will fancy their chances of winning. We are backing the home side to claim a narrow win with goals at both ends.
Prediction: Stjarnan 2-1 Linfield
Stjarnan vs Linfield Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Stjarnan to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 4 - Stjarnan to score over 1.5 goals
