/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballwhispers.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F08%2FICONSPORT_370601_0028.jpg)
Motherwell will face HJK on Thursday, 13 August, in the second leg of their Europa Conference League third-round qualifier.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, both sides are very much still in the tie, which sets us up for a potentially thrilling night at Fir Park.
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.
Motherwell vs HJK key stats
- Motherwell are unbeaten in competitive matches so far this season.
- HJK have won just one of their last three competitive matches.
- Both teams have scored in two of Motherwell's last three matches.
Motherwell vs HJK preview: Can the Steelmen reach the playoff round?
HJK vs Motherwell — Tale of the Tape
| Motherwell | vs | HJK |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd(Veikkausliiga) | Position | 3rd(Scottish Premiership) |
| 28 | Points | 4 |
| 28 | Goals For | 2 |
| 23 | Goals Against | 1 |
| 6 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 8th | Home / Away Rank | 3rd |
After losing their manager Jens Berthel Askou in the summer, there was trepidation in the air at Fir Park about how they would fare this season. Those doubts have already been firmly put to bed thanks to the excellent start the Steelmen have made under their new boss Alfred Johansson.
Motherwell are yet to lose a competitive match under the Swede, who is looking to take the club into the league phase/group stage of a European competition for the first time in their history.
The draw in Finland last week was certainly a better result for Motherwell than it was for their Finnish opponents, and they were well worth the draw. They now just need to finish the job to move forward to the playoff round at the end of the month.
Johansson has no fresh injury concerns from the draw with Falkirk at the weekend, but Jordan McGhee, Stephen O'Donnell, Callum Hendry, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Paul McGinn all remain in the treatment room.
As for HJK, it's an uphill task from here after failing to produce a winning performance in the first leg last week.
It's difficult to argue that they should have got more than a draw out of the match, too, and were perhaps lucky that Teemu Pukki equalised in the 70th minute after initially going a goal down.
While Motherwell are at the beginning of their season, HJK are approaching the climax of theirs with the championship round to begin in the coming weeks. Could tired legs play a part here?
HJK have no fresh injury concerns, and are expected to start with the same team that played in the first leg.
Motherwell vs HJK form guide & betting tips
| Motherwell | vs | HJK |
|---|---|---|
W
W
W
D
D |
Form |
W
W
L
D
W
|
| 8 | Goals For | 6 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 4 |
WWD |
Europa League | WWD |
Whispers predicts: Motherwell 2-1 HJK
Motherwell's impressive form under Johansson is too difficult to ignore. A home win has been best priced at 8/11.
Both teams got on the scoresheet in the first leg, and we are backing them to do the same here. BTTS has been priced at 4/5.
Tawanda Maswanhise scored his first Motherwell goal of the season in the first. Maswanhise to score anytime on Thursday has been priced at 1/1.
> Motherwell to win at 8/11 (1.73) | Likelihood: Possible
> BTTS at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Probable
> Tawanda Maswanhise to score anytime at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Possible