The first leg in Wales last week ended 1-0 in favour of The New Saints courtesy of Ryan Brobbel’s 57th minute goal.
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Linfield will host The New Saints in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League first-round qualification at Windsor Park on Wednesday evening. The first leg in Wales last week ended 1-0 in favour of The New Saints courtesy of Ryan Brobbel’s 57th minute goal. The winner of the tie will go through to the second round of qualification where they will face either Norway’s Bodo/Glimt or Faroese outfit KI, the losers being confined to Europa Conference League. Meanwhile the hosts are heading into the tie on the back of a 2-1 win at Knockbreda in a friendly last weekend.
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We welcome TNS to Windsor Park this evening in our UCL first round second leg tie! ??
Let’s do this Blues ??
➡️ https://t.co/iWxkmXtuJO#COYB #AFJ pic.twitter.com/QpF34piEJv
— Linfield FC (@OfficialBlues) July 13, 2022
Linfield, who won the NIFL Premiership title have plenty of work to do in order to keep themselves alive in the continental stage. In the first leg at Park Hall, the South Belfast side lost for the first time to opponents they had played three times before without defeat. Both Jordan Stewart and Stephen Fallon missed late chances for the Blues while the Saints goalkeeper Connor Roberts stood firm to keep a clean sheet. The Welsh champions on the other hand, have reached the third qualifying round of either the Europa League or Europa Conference League in three of the last four years. Last season, the Saints secured the Welsh league title, collecting a whopping 80 points, 21 more than second placed Bala Town before clinching the domestic cup in May to complete the double.
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Linfield head coach David Healy is expected to hand a start to the new signing Robbie McDaid. The Glentoran striker could lead the line with Millar and Cooper in support. Shields, Mulgrew and Fallon could form the midfield trio. As for The New Saints, Connor Roberts is likely to be the lead the defence. Scottish striker Declan McManus would shoulder the goal-scoring responsibilities alongside Cieslewicz. Routledge and Redmond are expected to pull the string from the midfield with Smith and Brobbel occupying the flanks.
Linfield probable starting line-up: Johns; Finlayson, Roscoe, Hall, Clarke; Shields, Mulgrew, Fallon; Cooper, McDaid, Millar
The New Saints probable starting line-up: Roberts; Davies, Astles, K Davies, Marriott; smith, Routledge, Redmond, Brobbel; McManus, Cieslewicz.
The UEFA Champions League first round qualification match between Linfield and The New Saints will take place at Windsor Park on Thursday at 12:15 am IST.
Live telecast of the match is not available on any mainstream TV channel, while live streaming is available on 247tv service.
