Brighton travel to Norway to take on Tromso, and most people will expect them to win, at least based on the quality of the two teams on paper.
Tromso are one of the top teams in the Norwegian top flight, but Brighton play in the most difficult and richest league in the world, so they certainly have greater quality within their squad.
Brighton will be looking to ensure they prove too strong for Tromso, but that will not necessarily be easy, especially in Norway.
Tromso beat CFR Cluj 7 -1 on aggregate to reach this stage, and they played in the Europa League before dropping down to this competition. They will now do everything they can to remain in Europe.
Brighton Enter in Strong Form
Brighton have been superb in preparation for this game, winning all three of their pre-season matches this summer after victories against Strasbourg, Roma and Bologna.
Despite that run, it is important to remember that those were only friendly matches. Tromso have been in competitive action for some time, as they are also competing in the Eliteserien, although they lost their last league match against Molde.
That difference in preparation could give Tromso an advantage despite Brighton having the stronger squad on paper. The Norwegian side have already had to compete in important matches and have shown that they can produce strong performances against European opposition.
Tromso Can Cause an Upset
Brighton will therefore need to approach the game seriously if they want to avoid a difficult evening in Norway. Their pre-season form has been encouraging, but competitive football presents a different challenge.
Tromso have already demonstrated their ability to progress in Europe by beating CFR Cluj 7-1 on aggregate, and they will be determined to continue their run in this competition.
It will be a tough challenge for the Norwegians, but they have enough experience of competitive football this season to make the game uncomfortable for Brighton. The Premier League side will have to use their superior quality effectively rather than relying solely on their reputation.
If Brighton underestimate Tromso, the Premier League side could suffer an upset in Norway. The visitors may be favourites, but Tromso have already shown that they are capable of competing in Europe and will be determined to make the most of their opportunity.
