Europa League Preview: Cork City -v- Rosenborg BK

CORK CITY

Cork City return to the European stage with the visit of Norwegian giants Rosenborg to Turner's Cross in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League (kick-off 7.45pm).

City found themselves in an interesting situation following their loss to Legia Warsaw in the Champions League, with the champions getting a bye into the third round of the Europa League.

However, despite safe passage to the latter rounds the challenges remain the same and a side with the European pedigree of Rosenborg now await John Caulfield and his side.

Rosenborg having knocked Dundalk out of the Champions League in 2017 and Ajax to progress into the Europa League proper, they will present a tough task for the Rebel Army.

“They look a very good side,” John Caulfield told the club's media team.

“Obviously, they played Celtic in the last round and we have watched those two games.

“In the first game, at Celtic Park, they could have been two up at half time, but Celtic came out a different side for the second half.

“They looked very good, very quick on the break. They are fit, they are mid-season and they went top of the table the other night with a win over Ranheim.”

Organised, bursting with pace and European experience to match, it would be foolish to underestimate such a side.

Caulfield rallied his players and supporters to come in full voice for tonight’s tie knowing that a combined effort on and off the field is needed for his side,

“Small margins make a massive difference, so hopefully tomorrow night we can create chances and take one or two of them.

“It’s a home game, we will have a full house and Turner’s Cross, as the last game against Legia showed, is a great place to play.

“The atmosphere was brilliant, and the supporters have been superb. Hopefully we can go out, play well and get a positive result to take into next week.”

City will be without the injured Colm Horgan, while midfielder Garry Buckley and defender Damian Delaney will have late fitness tests.

ROSENBORG

After going out to Celtic, the Norwegian side drop into the Europa League and travel to Ireland for a second successive season.

Rosenborg slipped passed Dundalk 3-2 on aggregate in last year’s Champions League qualifiers, a tooth-and-nail win which pushed them to extra time in Trondheim.

Nicknamed ‘Troillongan' - ‘The Troll Children’ - the Norwegians are anything but inexperienced in European terms.

Rosenborg came behind to beat Valur of Iceland in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, before loosing out to Celtic 3-1 on aggregate.

The Norwegians led in the away leg at Celtic Park before holding the Celts 0-0 in the second leg in Trondheim.

Tonight will be interim manager Rini Coolen’s fifth game in charge of the club.

Having taken the reigns last month after Rosenborg’s win over Valur in the Champions League, the former AZ defender has steadied the ship.

After an encouraging performance against Celtic in last week’s tie, they managed a 3-1 win over Ranheim to go back back top of the league.

Rosenborg travel with their 2018 top goal scorer Alexander Søderlund with six goals so far in 2018 and other noted names such as Nicholas Bendtner, formerly of Arsenal.

They arrive to Cork with a full squad and no suspensions to worry as they prepare for tonight’s tie.

Referee: Petr Ardeleanu

MATCH STATS

Tonight will be John Caulfield’s 15^th European tie at the helm at Turners Cross, with a run that has seen three wins, two draws and two losses on home turf.

This will be the first clash between a Cork side and a Norwegian side since since their first European adventure in 1990.

For Rosenborg, it will a fourth time in Ireland following games against Shellbourne, Bohemians and most recently Dundalk.

The Norwegians have never lost on Irish soil in any of these attempts, winning two and drawing one.

BETTING

Cork City 7/2 Draw 11/5 Rosenborg 5/6.

PREDICTION

Cork City 0 – 1 Rosenborg.

Cork City

Injured: Colm Horgan.

Doubtful: Gary Buckley, Damien Delaney.

Suspended: None.

Rosenborg

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.