Preview: Breidablik vs Samsunspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Icelandic giants Breidablik will hope to withstand the visit of Conference League table-toppers Samsunspor on Thursday as they continue their search for both their first goal and first victory in this season’s competition.

This will be the inaugural meeting between the clubs, but the visitors arrive in a confident mood as they aim to preserve their flawless record in the tournament.

Match preview

Breidablik return to European duty hoping to make the most of their Conference League journey, with lifting the trophy representing their only path back into continental football next year, a target that is admittedly far beyond expectation.

Their domestic campaign ended under recently-installed manager Olafur Ingi Skulason, appointed late in the season in an attempt to stabilise results – by then, however, the damage had been done, and Breidablik ultimately missed out on European qualification for 2025-26.

Skulason has overseen one win, one draw and one defeat in his opening three matches, with the loss coming in their most recent Conference League fixture, a 2-0 reverse against Shakhtar Donetsk, leaving the Icelanders near the bottom of the league-phase standings with a single point from three games.

They desperately need to start collecting points on Thursday, yet their ongoing goal drought — something only two other clubs in the competition share — remains the biggest barrier to turning competitive showings into tangible results.

History offers little encouragement either, with their only previous encounter against Turkish opposition ending in a heavy 6-1 aggregate defeat to İstanbul Basaksehir in the 2022-23 qualifiers.

Samsunspor are the latest visitors from Turkey, and they arrive in outstanding form, unbeaten in 12 matches across all competitions (seven wins, five draws), making them overwhelming favourites.

Half of those games have come away from home, where they have collected three wins and three draws, including a hard-fought 1-0 success at Legia Warsaw earlier in the league phase.

Thomas Reis’s side have won all three of their Conference League matches to date, placing them at the summit of the standings and making them one of only three teams still boasting a perfect record.

Their defensive strength has been particularly striking, with Samsunspor being one of two sides yet to concede a goal in the competition, while their tally of seven goals scored is joint-second-highest.

This campaign marks the Red Lightning’s first appearance in the main draw of a UEFA competition since 1998, and they have fond memories of facing Icelandic opposition, having defeated Leiftur 3-0 in the 1997 Intertoto Cup.

Breidablik Conference League form:

Breidablik form (all competitions):

Samsunspor Conference League form:

Samsunspor form (all competitions):

Team News

Breidablik have no injury or suspension issues, giving Skulason the luxury of a full squad to select from.

However, Kristinn Steindorsson must tread carefully, as another booking would rule him out of their next group fixture.

Samsunspor, meanwhile, remain without long-term absentees Olivier Ntcham, Ebrima Ceesay, Bedirhan Cetin, Tanguy Coulibaly and Afonso Sousa.

They also have a fresh setback, with Lubomir Satka returning from international duty injured and subsequently missing last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Besiktas.

Efe Ustun, Eyup Aydin and Cherif Ndiaye are unavailable, having been omitted from the squad registered for the league phase.

Breidablik possible starting lineup:

Kocuk; Yavru, Satka, Van Drongelen, Tomasson; Makoumbou; Musaba, Holse, Yuksel, Kilinic; Mouandilmadji

Samsunspor possible starting lineup:

A. Einarsson; Valgeirsson, Orrason, Margeirsson, K. Jonsson; A. Jonsson, Ludviksson, Gunnlaugsson; Thorsteinsson, Ulfarsson, Ingvarsson

We say: Breidablik 0-2 Samsunspor

Breidablik might have extra motivation, but quality will leave them short in the end, and this should be easily a comfortable victory for Samsunspor who have looked like an early favourite to go all the way in this competition.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.