A big week awaits for Novira Cymru Premier clubs in Europe, following a tricky set of results in last week’s first legs.
After a 2-0 defeat in Azerbaijan last week, The New Saints return to Park Hall for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie against Sabah SK on Tuesday (KO 18:30 BST).
The Saints kept the tie goalless for over an hour in Baku, but a header from Veljko Simic and a chip from Kaheem Parris put Sabah in control.
While admitting that he would have preferred to have kept the scoreline closer, Craig Harrison said that his side remain “well and truly in the tie” and are looking forward to returning to Park Hall where they have lost only twice in their last seven European fixtures.
However, the Saints have not overturned a first leg defeat to progress from a European tie in nine years and must show more attacking intent if they are to stage a comeback – they registered just two shots across the 90 minutes in Azerbaijan last week.
Both of those shots came from Leo Smith who is likely to be crucial once more, while Ryan Brobbel may come in to start after making a substitute appearance last week. More threat is needed from last season’s Novira Cymru Premier top scorer Jordan Williams, while Rhys Hughes will hope to make an impression on his home debut.
Connah’s Quay Nomads were the only Welsh side to avoid defeat last week, holding FC Ballkani to a 0-0 draw at Llanelian Road in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League tie.
John Disney’s side travel to Kosovo for the second leg on Thursday (KO 19:00 BST), as they aim to progress from a European tie for the first time in seven years.
Disney says he hopes to take inspiration from the club’s first ever tie in Europe against Norwegian side Stabaek a decade ago, which he played in, when the Nomads earned a goalless draw at home in the first leg before triumphing 1-0 away to reach the next round.
It will no doubt be a challenge, as Ballkani have lost just two of their last nine home legs in European qualifiers and the Nomads lost 4-1 on their last visit to Kosovo when facing Prishtina five years ago, but there was plenty of promise on show from Connah’s Quay’s new-look side last week.
Disney handed debuts to no fewer than nine players in the first leg – among them, Mikey Stone had a header cleared off the line while Shane Flynn was voted Player of the Match.
Penybont will aim to overturn a 1-0 first leg defeat when they travel to Andorra for the second leg of their UEFA Conference League tie against FC Santa Coloma (KO 18:00 BST).
A first half header from Guillaume Lopez was the difference between the two sides at the Cardiff City Stadium last week, but Bont missed the chance to equalise shortly after the hour mark when debutant Ryan Hill had a penalty saved by Andre Alcaraz.
It means that their task is harder than it was three years ago, when they earned a 1-1 draw at home against FC Santa Coloma before a 2-0 defeat after extra-time at the Estadi Comunal – with a red card for Chris Venables increasing their woes.
40-year-old Venables, now in his 14th European campaign, started the first leg last week but was substituted at half-time for Ethan Cann – a switch that made Bont look much more of a threat in the second period.
Rhys Griffiths was quick not to portion any blame on the veteran striker, describing him as “outstanding”, but would not be drawn on whether Cann would be the one to start in Andorra – the 23-year-old is yet to score for the club in 12 appearances. Noah Daley, who played half an hour in Cardiff, is another option if Bont need to go with more pace.
Caernarfon Town have a mountain to climb following their 5-0 home defeat against Estonian side FCI Levadia Tallinn in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League tie last week.
It was a special occasion in north Wales as the Cofis returned to The Oval after over a year away and hosted a European fixture at the stadium for the first time, but Richard Davies admitted that “it couldn’t have gone any worse” on the pitch.
It means that pride will perhaps be the key target when Caernarfon travel to Estonia on Thursday (KO 17:30 BST), in what will be the Cofi Army’s first European trip outside of the British Isles – the club’s clash with Legia Warsaw in 2024 was played behind closed doors.
Ben Nash will be unavailable following his red card in the first leg, but Ryan Sears could feature after being suspended last week. New signing Offrande Zanzala, who has over 150 EFL appearances to his name, may push to start after making his debut off the bench at The Oval.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Osian Evans, who scored 19 goals in 17 league games for Porthmadog in the third tier last season, looked lively when he came on as a substitute in the first leg so will be hopeful of some minutes again.
