It only takes a quick glance at the history books or the betting to appreciate the scale of the task facing Sligo Rovers this evening in Molde.
Ian Baraclough’s men will have to break new ground for Irish teams in the Champions League and show the bookies up if they are to progress to the next round of the Champions League.
Sligo will have to beat a team that they struggled just to live with at home last week until the Norwegians got what they came for and settled through the second half for defending their lead.
Baraclough insists his players were a little "star-struck" last Wednesday during a first half that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men had comfortably the better of.
First legs
"We know we have to score a goal and win the game but we believe that we can do that," he says. "The first legs in these things always tend to be cagey affairs but I think this one might be a bit more open and that should suit our lads who I think only really realised when it was too late last week that they could play against these guys.
“If we keep our shape . . . and settle into the game then I don’t see any reason why we can’t get the goal we need.
With Danny North and Rafaelle Cretaro added to the squad of 18 from which he picked at the Showgrounds, Baraclough has some additional attacking options and asked if he might change the shape of his side so as to accommodate a second striker he said: “That might be a little bit of a gamble but sometimes games like this require a bit of a gamble”.
There are big decisions to be made in midfield and defence too, however, with Iarfhlaith Davoren and Joseph Ndo having travelled with knocks and Evan McMillan one of several other starters from last week whose performance leaves a question mark over his place this time out.
Baraclough is well aware of Molde’s ability to capitalise if the visitors have to start throwing caution to the wind but having seen his team outplayed in front of their own supporters last week he will be hoping that at least the fear factor won’t be evident this evening.
