HJK vs Motherwell preview

Europe flag 2026/2027 Europa Conference League, Europe
Bolt Arena Thu, 6 Aug - 4:00 PM
Europa Conference League
Full Time Thu, 6 Aug 4:00 PM
3rd Qualifying Round Leg 1 of 2
Teemu Pukki - 72'
Goal
|
Goal
Tawanda Maswanhise - 64' (P)

CONTEXT

HJK hosted Motherwell in the first leg of their two-legged tie and the sides played out a 1-1 draw. The opening period ended goalless at halftime as neither team managed to score before the interval. HJK controlled 52 percent of possession while Motherwell held 48 percent in a tightly contested match. Although identified as the stronger side HJK were unable to claim victory on home soil. Both teams scored once in the second half after making necessary adjustments. The moderate deviation recorded for HJK reflected some unexpected aspects in their approach. No red cards were shown during the fixture and the result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg.

TL;DR

  • Structural deviation: HJK recorded a moderate structural deviation from pre-match expectations.
  • Efficiency shift: The efficiency shift remained in line with expectations for both sides.
  • xG alignment: xG alignment could not be assessed due to unavailable expected goals data.
  • Market alignment: The 1-1 draw proved aligned with pre-match indicators.
  • xG expectations: xG expectations could not be evaluated without supporting metrics.
  • Event impact: Match events produced a balanced 1-1 result after a 0-0 halftime.
  • Red card distortion: No red cards occurred and therefore no distortion affected the contest.
  • Market: HJK 44.3% (Δ+37.4%) | Draw 26% (Δ-62.2%) | Motherwell 29.7% (Δ+24.9%).
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
D. Černý
D. Černý
Referee 25 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 30.4
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 4
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0.36
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0.36
League Avg 0
J. Paták
J. Paták
1st Assistant 0 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
M. Malimánek
M. Malimánek
2nd Assistant 0 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
S. Volek
S. Volek
4th Official 0 matches
Fouls / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Yellow Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Red Cards / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
Penalties / Match
Referee 0
League Avg 0
HJK J. Rantanen
J. Rantanen
VS
Motherwell A. Johansson
A. Johansson
3
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
3
3 i
Last 6 Opponents
Coleraine Rank: 54 W
Coleraine Rank: 55 W
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
3 i
Last 6 Opponents
HB Rank: W
HB Rank: W
0
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
0 - 0 - 0
0

Win Probabilities

Live Win Probability (90 Min)
Home HJK
44.34%
Draw
26.01%
Away Motherwell
29.65%

Movement

Changes since opening
HJK
+37.35%
Draw
-62.22%
Motherwell
+24.87%

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power score: composite of opponent-weighted form (last 6 & 20 games) and league position over last 3 seasons.
48.15
30.46
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
HJK
Motherwell
Power Score
48.15
30.46
League Position
-
-
Global Rank
-
-

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

vs
HJK Opponent-weighted form score
Motherwell Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) HJK Motherwell

Heatmaps Ball coordinates

Attack and defence zones from ball position data. Filters: last 6 matches (overall/home/away), time period, competition.

vs

HJK

Left / Center / Right
Opposition half density
vs season average

Motherwell

Left / Center / Right
Opposition half density
vs season average
Possession Efficiency data not available for this match.

Set Pieces Efficiency Attack & Defence

Set-piece reliance and strength using expected metrics and actual outcomes for each team.

HJK ⚠ Proxy
vs
⚠ Proxy Motherwell
Created Set-piece attacking threat
HJK Motherwell
Set-piece xG Share Share of total expected goals generated from set pieces. Higher = more set-piece reliant in attack.
Goals per Match Average set-piece goals scored per match.
0.00 1.00
vs Expected (xG) Goals scored minus set-piece xG. Positive = overperforming; Negative = underperforming expectations.
vs
Conceded Set-piece defensive exposure
HJK Motherwell
Set-piece xGA Share Share of total expected goals conceded from set pieces. Higher = more exposed to set pieces defensively.
Conceded per Match Average set-piece goals conceded per match.
1.00 0.00
vs Expected (xGA) Goals conceded minus set-piece xGA. Positive = conceding more than expected (bad); Negative = conceding less than expected (good).
vs
xG set-piece data unavailable for both teams. Values estimated using proxy metrics (shots, dangerous attacks). Confidence: Medium.
HJK
Motherwell
xG Share = set-piece xG ÷ total xG
vs Expected = goals − set-piece xG

Counter / Transition Attack & Defence

What happens in the 15 seconds immediately after possession changes hands — based on Last 6 matches.

HJK
vs
Motherwell
Attack After Winning Possession transition → offence
HJK Motherwell
Goals per Match Average goals scored within 15s of winning the ball per match. ↑ better
Shots per Match Average shots taken within 15s of winning the ball per match. ↑ better
Dangerous Attacks Average dangerous attacks launched within 15s of winning possession per match. ↑ better
Defence After Losing Possession loss → defensive exposure
HJK Motherwell
Goals Conceded Average goals conceded within 15s of losing the ball per match. ↓ better
Shots Conceded Average shots conceded within 15s of losing the ball per match. ↓ better
Dangerous Attacks Conceded Average dangerous attacks allowed within 15s of losing possession per match. ↓ better
HJK
Motherwell
Window = 15s post-possession change
Index = 0–1 composite score

PRESSURE INDEX

Momentum phases from smoothed minute-by-minute pressure.

  • HJK. had peak pressure around 84'.
  • MOT started the game with stronger pressure.
HJK. Pressure MOT Pressure
Pressure Index: HJK. reached the top pressure at 84' (70.42).

STARTING XI

Match Formation 4-2-3-1
Match Formation 4-2-3-1

General Information

Date & Time
Aug 06, 2026, 04:00 PM
Competition
2026/2027 Europa Conference League, Europe · 3rd Qualifying Round · Leg 1 of 2
Stadium
Bolt Arena
Capacity
10770
Pitch Surface
Artificial turf
Weather
☀️ 12°C, Fair
Referees
D. Černý
Jan Paták
Marek Malimánek
Stanislav Volek

Statistics

Possession
HJK.
51%
MOT
49%

Top Statistics

1 Goals 1
1 Shots 1
52 Dangerous attacks 41
52 Possession 48
5 Corners 3
11 Free kicks 12
2 Yellow Cards 3

Match Overview

0 Penalties 1
0 Goal Kicks 1
8 Substitutions 6
11 Throwins 23

Attacking

87 Attacks 86

Discipline

1 Offsides 0
14 Fouls 11

Lineup

Referee : D. Černý

Starting XI

44
Matej Markovic
Matej Markovic Goalkeeper
6.12
3
Till Cissokho
Till Cissokho Defender
6.26
6
Ville Tikkanen
Ville Tikkanen Defender
6.26
14
Leonel Montano
Leonel Montano Defender
6.26
28
Miska Ylitolva
Miska Ylitolva Defender
6.25
13
Kaius Simojoki
Kaius Simojoki
Defender67'
6.61
4
Alexander Ring
Alexander Ring (C) Midfielder
6.37
8
Pyry Mentu
Pyry Mentu Midfielder
6.37
10
Lucas Lingman
Lucas Lingman
Midfielder70'
6.5
18
Toivo Mero
Toivo Mero Midfielder
6.37
7
Alfie Cicale
Alfie Cicale
Midfielder80'
6.5
22
Liam Möller
Liam Möller Midfielder
6.33
9
Mads Borchers
Mads Borchers Attacker
6.46
20
Teemu Pukki
Teemu Pukki
Attacker70'
6.86
29
Santeri Haarala
Santeri Haarala Attacker
6.46
26
Lassi Lappalainen
Lassi Lappalainen
Midfielder80'
6.5
Referee : D. Černý

Starting XI

1
Alex Paulsen
Alex Paulsen Goalkeeper
6.12
3
Jake Girdwood-Reich
6.25
5
Martin Moormann
Martin Moormann Defender
6.26
45
Emmanuel Longelo
Emmanuel Longelo Defender
6.26
22
John Koutroumbis
John Koutroumbis
Defender81'
6.5
7
Tom Sparrow
Tom Sparrow (C) Midfielder
6.37
8
Lukas Fadinger
Lukas Fadinger Midfielder
6.5
25
Olly Whyte
Olly Whyte
Midfielder66'
6.37
11
Alex Lowry
Alex Lowry Midfielder
6.33
4
Jamie Knight-Lebel
6.5
12
Oscar Priestman
Oscar Priestman Midfielder
6.33
17
Regan Charles-Cook
6.46
24
Luca Ross
Luca Ross
Attacker81'
6.5
18
Tawanda Maswanhise
6.67
77
Willy Vogt
Willy Vogt Attacker
6.5
27
Mikey Booth
Mikey Booth
Midfielder66'
6.37

Events

2ND-HALF
82'
Event
5th Yellowcard
81'
Event
John Koutroumbis Emmanuel Longelo
9th Substitution
81'
Event
Luca Ross Regan Charles-Cook
10th Substitution
Event
Alfie Cicale Toivo Mero
7th Substitution
80'
Event
Lassi Lappalainen Santeri Haarala
8th Substitution
80'
74'
Event
Jamie Knight-Lebel Alex Lowry
6th Substitution
Event
Field Goal / 1st Goal
72'
Event
Lucas Lingman Pyry Mentu
4th Substitution
70'
Event
Teemu Pukki Mads Borchers
5th Substitution
70'
Event
Kaius Simojoki Miska Ylitolva
3rd Substitution
67'
66'
Event
Mikey Booth Willy Vogt
1st Substitution
66'
Event
Olly Whyte Lukas Fadinger
2nd Substitution
64'
Event
Penalty / 1st Penalty
Event
4th Yellowcard
59'
Event
3rd Yellowcard
56'
53'
Event
2nd Yellowcard
1ST-HALF
25'
Event
1st Yellowcard

Match Commentary

90
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
83
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
81
Substitution Substitution
Johnny Koutroumbis is substituted for Emmanuel Longelo.
81
Update Update
Luca Ross comes on for Regan Charles-Cook.
81
Yellow Card Yellow Card Important
Yellow card issued.
80
Substitution Substitution
Alfie Cicale is substituted for Toivo Mero.
80
Update Update
Lassi Lappalainen is on, and Santeri Haarala is off.
74
Substitution Substitution
Substitution: Jamie Knight-Lebel comes on for Alex Lowry.
71
GOAL! GOAL! Important
Goal! Teemu Pukki scores to make it 1-1, assisted by Kaius Simojoki.
70
Update Update
Lucas Lingman is on, and Pyry Mentu is off.
70
Update Update
Teemu Pukki is on, and Mads Borchers is off.
67
Update Update
Kaius Simojoki is on, and Miska Ylitolva is off.
66
Update Update
On comes Mikey Booth, off goes Willy Vogt.
66
Update Update
Kaius Simojoki is on, and Miska Ylitolva is off.
64
GOAL! GOAL! Important
On comes Mikey Booth, and off goes Willy Vogt.
64
Update Update
Olly Whyte comes on for Lukas Fadinger.
58
GOAL! GOAL! Important
Goal! The score is now 0-1.
56
GOAL! GOAL! Important
Goal! The score is now 0-1.
52
Yellow Card Yellow Card Important
Yellow card issued.
50
Yellow Card Yellow Card Important
Yellow card issued.
49
Yellow Card Yellow Card Important
Yellow card issued to Oscar Priestman.
44
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
36
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
24
Yellow Card Yellow Card Important
Yellow card issued to Alex Lowry.
19
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
18
Corner Corner
Corner awarded.
1
Update Update
Kick-off! The referee is Dalibor Cerny.

CONCLUSION

The 1-1 draw in the opening leg provides both teams with a solid platform for the return fixture. HJK will look to leverage home advantage once more while Motherwell can take confidence from their away performance. Possession figures indicated a competitive balance that carried through to the final scoreline. Absence of disciplinary incidents allowed the game to flow without major interruptions. The moderate deviation noted for the stronger side underscores the challenges of translating pre-match status into results. With the aggregate still level the second leg promises further tactical adjustments and renewed intensity from both squads as they seek progression.