Uefa Champions League qualifying first round, second leg: Linfield (0) v The New Saints (1) (tonight, 7.45pm)
LINFIELD have a one-goal deficit to overcome at Windsor Park tonight if they are to keep their Champions League qualifying hopes alive.
The Blues went down to a 1-0 defeat to the New Saints in Wales last week, although David Healy’s men missed a host of chances to score on the night. Stephen Fallon and Matthew Clarke were both denied before former Northern Ireland U21 international Ryan Brobbel put the Welsh men in the lead. Jordan Stewart and Fallon then had efforts saved as Linfield searched in vain for an equaliser, but their manager has complete faith in their ability to turn the tables tonight.
"We were unlucky with some of the chances that we created," said Healy of last week’s first leg.
"We still believe. We still believe in the dressing room. We can not only win the game, but progress into the next round.”
Linfield warmed up for tonight’s game with a 2-1 friendly win over Knockbreda at the weekend and full-back Niall Quinn returns to the squad. However, both defender Jimmy Callacher and Finnish forward Eetu Vertainen are set to miss out.
The winner of tonight’s clash will likely play Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the next round. The club that knocked Celtic out of last season’s Europa Conference League defeated Faroese club KI 3-0 in last week’s first leg.
The losers, meanwhile, will drop into the Europa Conference League, where they will face either Swedish club Malmo or Icelandic outfit Víkingur Reykjavík. Malmo won the first leg 3-2.
