FC Thun have leaned on their home support in Europe but arrive with a heavily rotated side, which introduces uncertainty against a Vikingur Reykjavik team that also shuffled heavily. The visitors have been inconsistent on their travels and carry a leaky away defensive record…
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Sign inFC Thun host Icelandic visitors Vikingur Reykjavik at their Stockhorn Arena home in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie on 6 August 2026. The 10,014-capacity ground in Thun is expected to provide an intimate backdrop as both sides chase a place in the play-off round.
Vikingur Reykjavik are without goalkeeper Ingvar Jonsson due to injury, but no other fresh concerns have been reported. Striker Nikolaj Hansen, who scored both goals in the previous round’s 2-1 win over Hapoel Be’er Sheva, is expected to return to the starting line-up. FC Thun have not flagged any new injuries, leaving the Swiss hosts with a full squad to choose from for this first leg.
Vikingur arrive in Switzerland in mixed form. They secured a commanding 5-1 victory at Keflavik and edged Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-1 in the last round, but a 2-1 defeat to Thor Akureyri and a 2-2 draw away to Gyori ETO hint at vulnerability on the road. Hansen’s clinical finishing has been the difference-maker; the Icelandic side will lean on his penalty-area movement again.
Hansen is the focal point of Vikingur’s attack and enters the tie with confidence after his first-leg heroics against Israeli opposition. His ability to find space inside the box and finish with both feet makes him the visitors’ primary weapon. Thun’s backline, though untested at this stage of the competition, must stay compact and deny him service from wide areas if they are to take an advantage to Reykjavik.
The winners of this two-legged tie will advance to the UEFA Europa League play-off round, one step from the group stage. Vikingur hold recent European momentum, but Thun’s home comforts and the raucous atmosphere of a small, sold-out arena could tilt the tie. The return leg in Iceland next week will ultimately decide who progresses.
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21FC Thun
Coach: Luca Privitelli Gian
Vikingur Reykjavik
Coach: Solvi Ottesen
