You can almost predict 6 of the 8 QF teams in the Champions League these days ; so I've always found the qualifiers and first rounds the most interesting. Especially if a wee team can get in to the group stages e.g Linfield were 90 seconds away from group stage European football last year ; a Faroese side as well were very close. Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk (I think) have played group stage football too in the last 10-12 years.
With the luck of the draw and the Conference League - hopefully we'll see a diddy make the group stages.
Champions League started on Tuesday : Breiðablík beat Shamrock Rovers 1-0 in Dublin. HJK Helsinki beat Larne 1-0 in Finland. So both ties still all to play.
We've got the first rounds of the European club competitions going on. Tonight, there's a couple of Northern Irish, Irish and Welsh teams in action.
Bruno's Magpies
of Gibraltar v Dundalk - Dundalk surely will get through that.HB Torshavn v Derry City - tight game. Faroese are ever improving, wouldn't be surprised if HB won the tie, but Derry must be favourites.
Linfield v Vllaznia (Albania) - seems quite a tough tie for Linfield.
KA (Iceland) v Connah's Quay - KA won the cup (I think) and finished third. Tough ask for CQ.
KF Shkendija (Albania) v Haverfordwest - a new name in Europe for me, but not expecting much.
I think Scottish teams enter the tournament in the next round (and no doubt exit too)
Return legs played next week 18/19/20th of July.
