| By Clive Lindsay |
Breidablik are one of Iceland's lesser-known lights outside their own country but have arrived in Scotland this week on top of their own football world.
And former Aberdeen, Notts County, Raith Rovers and Dundee manager Jocky Scott has warned Motherwell that they will have to be on top of their game to avoid a similar fate to one of his other former clubs, Dunfermline Athletic.
Back in 2004, domestic table toppers and eventual champions of Iceland Hafnarfjordur knocked the Pars out of the early stages of the Uefa Cup, 4-3 on aggregate despite the Fife club having returned to Scotland with a 2-2 draw in the first leg.
And, on Thursday, Motherwell host another side who are flying high in Iceland's top division as they embark on their Europa League qualifying campaign at the second-round stage.
Indeed, despite having a reputation as a yo-yo club between Iceland's Premier League and second tier, Breidablik won their domestic cup last season and top the table for the first time in 25 years as they head for their European debut.
"They are a side who like to get the ball down and pass it - and they are very good at it," said Scott, who was sent to scout Thursday's visitors by Motherwell manager Craig Brown.
Brown feels Breidablik have advantage
"They work very hard for each other and they have one or two good individual players who work within the team unit."
Scott watched Breidablik win 3-1 away to Selfoss then beat Stjarnan 4-0 in their home town of Kopavogur on Thursday - their fourth straight win of the season - to lead on goal difference from Vestmannaeyjar after 11 games.
Right-back Arnor Sveinn Adalsteinsson, an Iceland international, left-back Kristinn Jonsson, midfielder Jokull Elisabetarson and Iceland Under-21s forward Alfred Finnbogason have been picked out by Scott as the main danger men.
"Their two full backs did very well," he said. "They are attacking full-backs who get forward as often as possible."
Scott described 26-year-old playmaker Elisabetarson, who had a spell in the United States with Carolina Dynamo, as a "very good player and very good user of the ball".
Finnbogason, who played with Hutchison Vale Boys Club while his father was at Edinburgh University, impressed previous scouts enough to win a trial with Blackpool in November.
"He plays just off the front and is excellent, with good ability," said Scott of the 21-year-old. "He likes to score goals but is capable of creating them too.
"They are a young side. I think their average age is about 24."
Striker Gudmundur Petursson has had a point to prove after being axed by Reykjavik clubs IR and KR.
The 23-year-old former Iceland Under-21 international scored in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and in the penalty shoot-out as Breidablik won their domestic cup final on penalties against Fram last season, winning a permanent deal after having been on loan from KR.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old midfielder Gudmundur Kristjansson also has full international experience and 20-year-old striker Kristinn Steindorsson has been capped at youth level.
Motherwell know only too well the dangers of going into Europe without a competitive game behind them.
Sutton targets European run
They slumped to a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Welsh side Llanelli in last season's qualifiers and then lost their away tie to Albanians Flamurtari Vlore by the same scoreline, although they recovered to win both ties.
"It's difficult to compare because the pace of the game is so different," said Scott when asked to rate Motherwell's chances this time round.
"The Premier League is 100 miles an hour, but their game is a lot slower than that.
"It will be interesting to see if Motherwell can play to their potential in terms of energy and how Breidablik handle that if they do.
"I would like to say that Motherwell would win comfortably, but I know it won't be easy.
"One thing they cannot afford to do, and I know Craig Brown and Archie Knox will not allow this, is to be complacent.
"If both teams play to their potential, it will be a very good game."
Breidablik's nickname, Blikar Blix, means twinkles (as in stars), while the singular form, Bliki, is also a name for male ducks.
Whether they shine in the Europa League or lamely bow out at the second qualifying stage will be decided over two legs against the Steelmen.
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