Conference League
2026-08-06 - HJK Helsinki vs Motherwell
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round First Leg
Thursday 6th August 2026 - Kick Off 5pm
HJK Helsinki
They had been the dominant team in Finland and had won the title four times in a row between 2021 and 2024, but HJK Helsinki have fallen away from the pacesetters in the last couple of years. This is another European League that is played through the summer so HJK Helsinki have the match fitness in a good place as they try and negotiate the UEFA Conference League Qualifiers.
Twelve months ago, HJK Helsinki joined this competition in the First Qualifying Round and were eventually beaten by Arda Kardzhali on Penalties in the Second Qualifying Round. This time around they have begun in the Second Qualifying Round and HJK Helsinki crushed Coleraine of Northern Ireland 8-0 on aggregate and that has included extending the unbeaten run at home to 4 games in European Football.
It is clear that some importance has been placed in the Conference League and HJK Helsinki have come through the Qualifiers in August 2023 and August 2024 to enter the Group Stage of this competition. Earlier this week, a much changed HJK Helsinki were beaten 3-0 away from home in the Finnish top flight, but this is a side that have lost 1 of the last 10 home games in all competitions and HJK Helsinki have won 4 in a row here.
The likes of Teemu Puuki will be familiar to British fans from his time with Norwich City and he should be restored to the starting line up for this fixture.
Motherwell
A strong season was put together by Motherwell in 2025/26 and it led to plenty of interest in manager Jens Berthel Askou who had impressed in what turned out to be his sole season in charge at Fir Park. He was lured away by Toulouse and Motherwell chose Alfred Johansson as the replacement, which can be a worrying time for any club that has achieved their aims in the previous campaign.
You can never be sure how a team will react to a new voice, as Hearts are finding out in the early part of this season, but Motherwell have been more impressive. Playing in the Conference League has meant Motherwell had a much more manageable Second Qualifying Round tie and they comfortably dismissed HB Torshavn 5-0 on aggregate as the club returned to European Football for the first time in four years.
Motherwell fans will not have forgotten the embarrassing defeat to Sligo Rovers in the Second Qualifying Round of the Conference League in July 2022, but the win over HB Torshavn in the manner it was produced will have given all a lift. Last weekend Motherwell also scored a late winner over Hibernian in the start of the Scottish Premiership and the side have won 4 of the last 5 away games played in all competitions.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive fixture between these clubs.
Prediction
There is no doubting that HJK Helsinki will benefit from having played football through the summer, but they will be under some pressure to have a lead to take to Scotland next week.
Hosting the First Leg of this Third Qualifying Round tie in the Conference League gives HJK Helsinki an opportunity to have something to protect, but they should also be aware of the kind of start that Motherwell have made to this season.
Alfred Johansson is going to be under pressure to replicate the work done by the previous manager, but to also help the team display progression.
The early results have been encouraging for Motherwell and Scottish Football does need their representatives to put a solid season on the board to make things easier for clubs in future years.
Motherwell look capable of moving through this tie, but the First Leg could end up being an entertaining affair with the approach that both teams are likely to take.
With the 'away goals' rule scrapped, both HJK Helsinki and Motherwell can give this a go and goals looks the order of the day.
The Pick :
HJK Helsinki 2-1 Motherwell
