St Johnstone v Rosenborg Prediction 17th July 2013 ? Europa League

St Johnstone v Rosenborg Betting Preview
A great reward here for St Johnston who produced a great season in the Scottish Premier League last term, taking a third placed finish. For their efforts they get to open their account in this season?s Europa League, albeit in the second qualifying round. This week, the Scottish outfit take on the challenge of Rosenborg from Norway who thumped Northern Irish side Crusaders in the first qualification round.

St Johnstone v Rosenborg Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Rosenborg 8/13, Draw 3/1, St Johnstone 9/2

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St Johnstone v Rosenborg Recommended Bet:  
A big week or so for St Johnstone, as the Scottish side heads out to Norway to contest the first leg, before the second leg return back in Scotland on July 25th just a week later.  St Johnstone have limited experience in Europe as they have only made two previous appearances in the UEFA Cup. The first time was back in the 1971/72 season where they made it to the third round, and they were last in competition back in the 1999/2000 season. That most recent run didn?t go as well as their debut, because they didn?t make it past the first round, winning just one of their four matches. So will their lack of European experience hurt them at the end of the day? An away goal would be huge with a clean sheet in tow. St Johnstone of course are on their summer break and will have to find a bit of match sharpness to make their way through what should be a pretty challenge.

Rosenborg should be in pretty good shape, because they head into the match with the advantage of already playing some competitive football. They are competing on the Norweigan domestic front at the moment and they are top of the Norwegian Premier League.  They are in great confidence and form, winning six of their last seven domestic league and cup matches, unbeaten in eight. Not only that, they have also come through the first qualifying round of the Europa League, where they beat Crusaders 2-1 in Belfast in the first leg before running out massive 7-2 winners in the return. However, the fact that the Crusaders got on the scoresheet three times over the two legs should offer St Johnstone a fair bit of hope though. The real work may come in the second leg, as St Johnstone may just have to dig in a bit because the Norwegians are match fit and match sharp at the moment. The Scottish Premier League side may have to work hard to take something back to the second leg with them.