Conference League play-off: Virtus pegged back but stay afloat. All to be decided in the second leg

Virtus travel to Iceland with the group-stage dream in their sights. The opponents are Breiðablik, already faced by Tre Penne in the summer of 2023. The hosts start at full throttle, creating a couple of big chances through Valgeirsson (brilliant strike well saved by Guddo) and Muminović, who is also denied by a superb reflex save from the neroverde goalkeeper on his European debut. The Icelandic fireworks do not dazzle Bizzotto’s men, who hit back by breaking the deadlock. The spotlight is all on Niang, who sets off from his own three-quarter line, eats up dozens of metres with the ball at his feet and finishes off a 3-v-2 counter-attack by slipping in Buonocunto on the overlap, only for him to be brought down by Margeirsson on the edge of the penalty area. From the spot, Scappini sends Anton Einarsson the wrong way and, with four goals (in three matches), becomes the most prolific scorer for a Sammarinese club in European competition. The momentum is with Virtus, who go close again through Lombardi: the neroverde forward rounds the goalkeeper well but loses the angle for the shot and, by the time he looks to pick out Niang in the middle, the defence has regrouped. Then comes Legittimo’s twisting header from a Buonocunto free-kick swung into the box: the ball finishes just wide of Anton Einarsson’s right-hand post. Once the Virtus storm has passed, Breiðablik get back on the front foot and find the equaliser just after the half-hour mark. Jónsson reaches the by-line and cuts the ball back for Valgeirsson, who opens up his body and beats Guddo with a side-foot finish. Early in the second half the hosts complete the comeback from the penalty spot, following a rather generous whistle from the Danish referee for a tangle involving Valgeirsson in the box. Thomsen steps up and is every bit as accurate as Scappini. Virtus’ reply comes from Ciacci, who attempts a spectacular first-time volley but cannot find the stunner. Breiðablik push to kill the tie: Guddo gets his gloves behind Jónsson’s powerful effort, then it is VAR that comes to Bizzotto’s rescue by ruling out Magnússon’s goal for a marginal offside.

UEFA Europa Conference League 2025-26, Play-off | Breiðablik – Virtus 2-1

BREIÐABLIK (4-3-3)

A. Einarsson; Volgeirsson, Muminović, Margeirsson, Jónsson; Thorsteinsson, Gunnlaugsson (46’ Steindórsson), V. Einarsson; Bjarnason (63’ Kristinsson), Thomsen (76’ Magnússon), Ingvarsson (63’ Ómarsson)

Substitutes: Bragason, Snæhólm, Orrason, Kotļevs, Þorsteinsson, Hallsson, Gunnleifsson, Ágústsson

Coach: Halldór Árnason

VIRTUS (4-1-4-1)

Guddo; Golinucci, Giacomoni, Legittimo, Gori; Buonocunto, Ciacci (90+1’ Capicchioni), Amati (73’ Montanari); Niang (90+1’ Muggeo), Scappini (85’ Benincasa), Lombardi (73’ Zenoni)

Substitutes: Manzaroli, Sabato, De Lucia

Coach: Luigi Bizzotto

Referee: Mikkel Redder (DEN)

Assistant referees: Deniz Yurdakul and René Risum (DEN)

Fourth official: Lasse Læbel Graagaard (DEN)

VAR: Mads Kristoffersen (DEN)

AVAR: Jakob Kehlet (DEN)

Booked: Golinucci, Amati, Gori, Scappini, Benincasa

Scorers: 11’ (p) Scappini, 31’ Valgeirsson, 55’ (p) Thomsen