Viking vs Sligo Rovers

All the Irish teams are in European action on Thursday night and we will have score updates, TV channel info, live stream, team news and more for the Europa ...

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After knocking out both Bala Town and Motherwell so far in the Europa Conference Leageu qualifiers, Sligo Rovers now face Norweigan outfit Viking.

Viking are sitting in fifth place in the Eliteserien, the top division of Norweigan football. It's safe to say it's been quite the European journey for Sligo Rovers so far. It's certainly one of the biggest games in the Connacht club's history and if they can manage to bring something back to The Showgrounds ahead of the second leg, Sligo Rovers will feel confident of securing a place in the playoff round.

Follow the fortunes of the two Irish sides as they begin the third qualifying round for the Europa Conference League.

Broadcasting legend Tommie Gorman joined Eoin and Dan on #OTBAM to talk about his life-long love of Sligo Rovers ahead of their third-round Europa ...

Broadcasting legend Tommie Gorman joined Eoin and Dan on #OTBAM to talk about his life-long love of Sligo Rovers ahead of their third-round Europa Conference League qualifier first leg at Viking tonight. Broadcasting legend Tommie Gorman joined Eoin and Dan on #OTBAM to talk about his life-long love of Sligo Rovers ahead of their third-round Europa Conference League qualifier first leg at Viking tonight.

Europa Conference League qualifier: Norwegian side put five goals past Bit O' Red.

It completes a disappointing five days for John Russell’s side, who were knocked out of the FAI Cup by First Division side Wexford in Sligo last week. Only about 60 Sligo fans were able to make the journey in support of their side — Sligo’s third trip to Norway for European football in the space of a decade. After the euphoria of last week’s famous result against Motherwell, Sligo Rovers were brought back down to earth with a resounding defeat away to Norwegian side Viking in Stavanger.

Sligo Rovers' European adventure is all but over following their 5-1 defeat to Norway's Viking Stavanger in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League ...

Sligo scored a goal two minutes later. The home side added a fourth goal after 60 minutes. They saw more of the ball and began to get into Viking's half.

It was always going to be a difficult task for John Russell's Sligo Rovers, but it looks as though their European adventures are all but over for another ...

Rovers will be focused on putting a show for their fans in the second-leg next Thursday at a sold out Showgrounds, but it will take a miracle to change the outcome. Despite all the blows they suffered, Sligo grew into the game as it wore on, and Gunnarsson in the Viking goals had to be brave on 35 minutes to get in the way as Pijnaker and Mata linked up well in front of goal. Zlatko Tripic was causing problems for the visitors immediately, and he put his side ahead before Rovers even had a chance to settle, as he got on the end of Kevin Aleksander Kabran's dangerous ball. The key for the Bit O'Red was to keep the tie alive heading into the second-leg next week at The Showgrounds. But, Viking were favourites to progress from the third round prior to the meeting at Viking Stadion in Stavanger. It was always going to be a difficult task for John Russell's Sligo Rovers, but it looks as though their European adventures are all but over for another year as they suffered a heavy defeat in the first leg of their Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie against Viking FK.

Viking's Mai Traore celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. Image: NTB/Carina Johansen/INPHO. Viking 5. Sligo Rovers 1. IT WAS always going to ...

But things were about to get even worse. The game is already a sell-out, but after a difficult evening in Norway, the build-up and preparation for that match will be a little different as Rovers look to give a good account of themselves in the return leg. Russell will have been pleased with how his side finished the first half, but that was as good as it was going to get. Given Rovers’ dismal defeat to Wexford in the FAI Cup last Sunday, there were big demands on the Bit O’Red, as Russell wanted a response. There was no doubt in the mind of John Russell that his side were once again up against it, this time taking on a Norwegian side who overcame Sparta Prague in their second-round qualifier. IT WAS always going to be a tough ask, but Sligo Rovers’ incredible 2022 Europa Conference League qualifying campaign looks all but over as the Bit O’Red suffered a heavy defeat to a superior Viking side in Norway.