Norwegian champions Molde face a tricky tie in the third qualifying round given they are up against a team that reached Champions League last 16 stage last season.

Basel, too, had an easy job in the previous round, but it is the Swiss side that are considered favourites to go through.

Molde have been closing the gap behind leading sides in Norwegian Eliteserien over the last few years, but it wasn’t until last season that they finally managed to win the first ever league title.

The success came at a perfect time, exactly 100 years after the club had been founded, and it was achieved with Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm.

The team were somewhat reinforced in the winter and they currently sit in second place in the league standings, six points behind surprise leaders Stromsgodset.

After the 4-1 aggregate win over minnows Ventspils in the second qualifying round, Molde are rated underdogs in the clash against Basel, with Betfair paying 2.95 (39/20) on home win.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rested several starters in the league game against Lillestrom, but Joshua Gatt, Magne Hoseth and Jo Inge Berget remain injury doubts.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Pettersen – Linnes, Hovland, Vatshaug, Rindaroy – Mostrom, Eikrem, Berg Hestad, Stamnestro – Angan, Chima.

FC Basel have become regular in Champions League group stages and they enjoyed a lot of success in Europe last season.

The Swiss side managed to beat mighty Manchester United to the second place in the group, although they were later trashed by Bayern Munich in the Last 16 stage.

FC Basel entered the new season without two key players as both Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka made a switch to Bundesliga, while defender David Abraham joined Getafe.

In came defenders Gaston Sauro and Marcelo Diaz, but the club failed to find proper replacements for the departed midfielders.

As a result, Basel have been struggling at the start of the season, winning just one of first three league games, although they did record a double victory over Estonian side Flora in the previous qualifying round.

The Swiss side now face a tough task in Norway and odds of 2.45 (29/20) offered by BetVictor on away win don’t look too tempting.

Apart from Fabian Frei, who is away on international duty, boss Heiko Vogel will have full squad to choose from.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Sommer – Steinhofer, Sauro, Dragovic, Park – David Degen, Cabral, Yapi Yapo, Zoua – Streller, Frei.