New coach seeking first win: prediction for Motherwell vs Torshavn
The first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round between Motherwell and Torshavn will take place on July 23, 2026, at Fir Park in Motherwell. The Scottish side kicks off their European campaign after two pre-season defeats, while the visitors from the Faroe Islands arrive on the back of improved results in their domestic league.
Motherwell: rebuilding starts with painful defeats
Motherwell earned a spot in the Conference League qualifiers thanks to their fourth-place finish in last season’s Scottish Premiership. After Jens Berthel Askou departed for Toulouse, Alfred Johansson took over as head coach, but his first matches in charge have been far from successful.
In pre-season friendlies, the Scots suffered a 0-4 thrashing by Aarhus and then lost to Genk in a high-scoring shootout - 3-4. Over the summer, the squad was reinforced by Alex Paulsen, Willy Vogt, Dylan Williams, Martin Moormann, and Jake Girdwood-Reich. Up front, the hosts are counting on Elijah Just, who scored against Genk and previously netted three goals at the World Cup.
Torshavn: domestic resurgence, European drought continues
The team from the Faroe Islands is enduring a tough domestic campaign and sits fifth with 24 points after 16 rounds. Torshavn have seven wins, three draws, and six defeats to their name, but their recent results have been on the rise.
The visitors have won their last three league matches, most recently cruising to a convincing 4-1 victory. Jakup Thomsen bagged a brace and is expected to lead the line again. However, their European record remains poor: Torshavn are entering Conference League qualifying for the fifth straight season but haven’t won on the continental stage since July 2022.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Motherwell lost both pre-season friendlies with an aggregate score of 3-8.
- Torshavn have won their last three matches in the Faroe Islands Premier League.
- The visitors haven’t won in European competition since beating Newtown 1-0 in July 2022.
Home side to make their class count: prediction for Motherwell vs Torshavn
Pre-season results have exposed serious defensive frailties for Motherwell, but the team is gradually adapting to the demands of their new coach and boasts a much stronger squad. Backed by their home fans, the Scots should look to dominate possession from the outset and generate plenty of chances.
Torshavn have shown improvement in their recent games and could exploit the hosts’ defensive instability. Nevertheless, their long winless run in Europe and the gulf in individual quality make them clear underdogs. The Faroese side might find the net, but containing Motherwell’s attack for the full 90 minutes will be a tall order.
