There is no rest for The New Saints and Caernarfon Town, who are straight back in European action again this week after progressing from the first qualifying round.
On Tuesday night, TNS travel to Hungary to face Ferencváros in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie.
Craig Harrison’s side overcame Montenegrin side FK Dečić 4-1 on aggregate in the first qualifying round, with last season’s JD Cymru Premier top scorer Brad Young starring with three of their goals.
However, Ferencváros will undoubtedly be a much harder challenge – ‘The Greens’, as they are known have won the Hungarian title in the last six seasons and three of their players were included in Hungary’s squad for UEFA EURO 2024.
Ferencváros reached the knockout stage play-offs of the UEFA Europa Conference League last season before losing to eventual champions Olympiacos, while they made it to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2020/21.
TNS are aiming to reach the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2010 and if they get there they will guarantee themselves a place in the group/league stage of European competition for the first time.
This will be their first fixture against Hungarian opposition since 2015/16 when they were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Videoton in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.
Following Caernarfon Town’s dramatic penalty shootout win over Crusaders in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round last week, Richard Davies’ side now take on Polish giants Legia Warsaw in the second qualifying round.
The Cofis were 3-0 up in the tie against Crusaders before being pegged back, but Marc Williams’ winning spot-kick in Belfast ensured it was a night that will never be forgotten for the club.
Caernarfon travel to Warsaw for the first leg this week, with the game to be played behind closed doors as Legia have been punished for their fans’ behaviour in a game against Aston Villa in last season’s UEFA Europa Conference League.
The 15-time Polish champions finished second behind Villa in their group, before losing to Molde in the knockout stage play-off.
Legia have a rich history in European competition, having reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1970 and more recently the Champions League group stages in 2016/17 – when they drew 3-3 with a Real Madrid side who would go on to win the final in Cardiff that season.
