A big week awaits in Europe as TNS, Penybont and Haverfordwest County all need positive results in their second leg matches to progress.
The Saints travel to North Macedonia for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie against KF Shkendija (Tuesday, 19:00 BST).
The two sides drew 0-0 at Park Hall last week, with Craig Harrison admitting that he was “a little bit disappointed” not to have earned an advantage on home turf.
“I don’t think it was a vintage performance but I don’t think we were poor on any stretch of the imagination,” the Saints boss added. “I thought we were decent, just that end product. We did everything but score a goal.”
The biggest blow from the first leg was seeing Leo Smith stretchered off with a knee injury just before half-time. The midfielder was a near ever-present in last season’s European campaign so will be a significant miss in North Macedonia.
The winner of the tie will either FC Steaua București or Inter Club d’Escaldes in the second qualifying round, with the Romanian side 3-1 ahead after the first leg.
The losers will drop into the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, where they will meet the losers of the tie between FC Drita and and FC Differdange 03, with the Kosovans earning a 1-0 lead last week.
Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli hosts Haverfordwest County’s second leg against Maltese side Floriana in the UEFA Conference League (Thursday, 18:00 BST).
Ben Ahmun headed the Bluebirds in front away from home last week, but goals from Gonzalo Gamarra and Maltese international Jake Grech earned a 2-1 advantage for Floriana.
“I thought the boys were fantastic,” Tony Pennock said, despite the defeat. “They were tough, tough conditions and at times it felt like we were playing against the referee as well, but the lads kept their discipline. We had long spells without the ball, but when we had the ball we caused them plenty of problems and there’s lots to look forward to for Thursday night.”
Pennock’s side will aim to take inspiration from two years ago when they overturned a 1-0 first leg defeat away against Shkendija to progress on penalties in the second leg.
The winners of the tie will meet Kosovan side FC Ballkani – who reached the group stage in the 2023/24 season – in the second qualifying round.
Penybont have the biggest challenge ahead of them as they host Kauno Zalgiris of Lithuania in their UEFA Conference League second leg at Cardiff International Sports Campus (Thursday, 18:00 BST).
Bont were beaten 3-0 away from home in the first leg, with Rhys Griffiths admitting that his team “were beaten by the better side”.
“Sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up and just say you were well beaten,” Griffiths said. “They were very athletic, very quick all over the park. When their tails were up they were very strong.”
Bont’s woes were compounded in the second half as Mael Davies was sent off for a second bookable offence and he will therefore miss the second leg.
If Griffiths’ men do stage a remarkable comeback in Cardiff, they will meet the winners of the tie between Valur and FC Flora Tallinn in the second qualifying round. The Icelandic side were 3-0 winners at home in the first leg.
