Although there was the disappointment of exiting the Champions League at the first hurdle, there is a second bite of the European cherry for The New Saints as we transfer to the Europa Conference League.

Paired with FC Swift Hesperange, it’s back to action this Tuesday (July 25) when we welcome the champions of Luxembourg to Park Hall for the second qualifying round first leg game.

Like last week’s opponent, BK Häcken, the Luxembourgers won their national league for the first time last season.

Playing thirty games (there are sixteen teams in the Luxembourg National Division), they ended the campaign with 77 points and a seven-points gap over second-placed Progrès Niederkorn.

Like The New Saints, they only lost one league game all season, also drawing just five. The only difference between the sides as far as result statistics are concerned, is that with the Cymru Premier playing two extra matches, TNS won 26 compared to Swift’s 24.

However, in reference to the aforementioned gap between first and second, in the case of the Welsh champions that was an impressive twenty-two.

Regarding statistics at either end of the pitch, while Swift just hit the century with 100 goals scored, we went comfortably beyond that, finding the net 0n 112 occasions.

There was also an advantage defensively in favour of the Welsh champions, who conceded just 17 in 2022/2023, while our opponent on Tuesday saw their goalkeeper beaten 28 times.

The appointed officials are from Belgium: Jasper Vergoote (referee), Nico Claes and Michael Geerolf (assistant referees) and Nathan Verboomen (fourth official).

The game has a 7.00 p.m. kick-off time and you can purchase tickets via the home page of our website.

If you’re not at Park Hall, you can follow the action via Sgorio’s digital platforms.