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Meeting in the first leg of their Europa League playoff on Thursday, August 20, Egnatia will welcome Norwegian side Lillestrom to Albania, with both teams looking to move closer to securing a place in the league phase of Europe's second-tier competition.
Regardless of the outcome, both sides are guaranteed league-phase football, with the loser dropping into the Conference League.
The Albanian champions were knocked out of Champions League qualifying after losing to Celje on penalties before producing a stunning 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the third round of Europa League qualifying last week.
As for Lillestrom, they shocked Norwegian football last season by qualifying for European football after winning the Norwegian Cup, despite competing in the second tier at the time.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Egnatia vs. Lillestrom key stats
- Egnatia have not played in the main stage of a European competition since 2017-18.
- Nevil Dede's side have scored five or more goals in two of their last five matches.
- Lillestrom were promoted from the Norwegian First Division last season after ending the campaign unbeaten across 30 matches.
- The Canaries scored 87 goals and conceded just 18 during their title-winning season, finishing 25 points clear of second-placed Start.
- Hans Erik Odegaard's side became the eighth team to win the Norwegian Football Cup while competing in the second tier.
Egnatia vs. Lillestrom preview: Who will edge closer to Europa League league phase football?
Egnatia vs. Lillestrom — Tale of the Tape
| Egnatia (Albanian Kategoria Superiore) | vs. | Lillestrom (Norwegian First Division) |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | Position | 5th |
| N/A | Points | 26 |
| N/A | Goals For | 23 |
| N/A | Goals Against | 21 |
| N/A | Clean Sheets | 5 |
| N/A | Home / Away Rank | 12th / 4th |
Based on how Egnatia progressed through their recent Europa League qualifying encounter, Thursday's first leg could produce an entertaining encounter in Albania.
The hosts began their European campaign with ambitions of reaching the Champions League league phase, but those hopes were ended by Celje on penalties, setting up a Europa League tie with Shamrock Rovers.
Nevil Dede's side travelled to Tallaght as underwhelming favourites and left the Irish capital facing a difficult task after suffering a 3-1 defeat.
However, the Albanian champions produced a remarkable response in the second leg, thrashing Stephen Bradley's men 5-1 at Egnatia Arena despite playing the second half with 10 men.
Edison Ndreca was the player sent off after receiving two yellow cards and the left-back will therefore miss the first leg of their playoff tie.
Should the Rrogozhine-based side progress, they will have reached the main phase of a European competition for the first time in nearly a decade.
Lillestrom, meanwhile, travel to Albania for their first European outing of the summer after their Norwegian Cup triumph allowed them to skip the previous three qualifying rounds.
That cup success came in unusual circumstances, with the Canaries lifting the trophy for the seventh time in their history despite competing in the second tier.
Hans Erik Odegaard's side carried their impressive league form into the new campaign, securing an immediate return to the Eliteserien after going unbeaten across 30 matches with 25 wins and five draws, while also coming close to scoring 100 goals.
Having won both the second-tier title and the Norwegian Cup, Lillestrom went unbeaten throughout 2025 and did not taste defeat again until their fifth match back in the top flight, with the Canaries now sitting fifth after 17 league games.
The Canaries do, however, head into their Europa League playoff in their worst run of form this season, having failed to win any of their last four matches.
Egnatia vs. Lillestrom form guide & betting tips
| Egnatia | vs. | Lillestrom |
|---|---|---|
W
D
D*
L
W
|
Form |
W
L
L
L
D
|
| 17 | Goals For | 4 |
| 10 | Goals Against | 10 |
L
W
|
Europa League | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Egnatia 1-2 Lillestrom
The two sides head into this playoff tie at very different stages of their respective seasons.
Egnatia have already played six European matches but are yet to begin their domestic campaign, while Lillestrom are competing in Europe for the first time this season and have already played 17 league matches.
That greater match sharpness could prove important for the visitors, and we expect Lillestrom to return to Norway with a slender first-leg advantage at 10/11.
Egnatia have been prolific in front of goal in recent weeks, scoring five or more goals in two of their last five matches, so we expect the hosts to find the net, with Over 2.5 Goals at 9/10 and Both Teams to Score at 8/11 also appealing.
Our correct-score prediction is a 2-1 victory for Lillestrom, which is priced at 8/1.
> Lillestrom to win at 10/11 | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 2.5 goals at 9/10 | Likelihood: Probable
> Both Teams to score anytime at 8/11 | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score of 1-2 at 8/1 | Likelihood: Outsider