Molde’s assistant coach Trond Strande has stressed that he knows all about the qualities of Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface ahead of Thursday’s Europa League matchday two clash at the Aker Stadium.
The Norwegian side are hoping to pick up their first points in Group H after suffering an opening day loss to Qarabağ, while Bayer Leverkusen are topping the group after a routine 4-0 win over BK Hacken.
Thursday’s game marks a return to Norway, where Boniface started his professional career at Bodo/Glimt.
The one-cap Nigeria international has a special memory of Molde and the Aker Stadium, having scored his first professional goal against them on the final day of the 2019 season.
Boniface has made a splash since arriving in Germany in the summer transfer window with 11 goal involvements (8 goals, 3 assists) in eight outings for Bayer Leverkusen.
Strande is aware of the threat that can be posed by Boniface and is looking forward to what promises to be an intriguing duel between the Bayer Leverkusen number 22 and the Molde defenders.
“He is a physical monster. We know him from before and we are looking forward to that duel too,” he told Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.
Boniface has picked up where he left off last season in the Europa League as he scored and assisted in Bayer’s 4-0 rout of BK Hacken on matchday one.
