Big dates in Europe for North Wales-based Cymru Premier clubs
With The New Saints safely through to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League after sealing a 4-1 aggregate win over FK Dečić of Montenegro on Tuesday, it is now the turn of three other Cymru Premier clubs to attempt progression in the UEFA Conference League this week.
Cymru Premier champions Saints will face Ferencváros of Hungary in the second qualifying round.
If TNS win one more qualifying tie this season they’ll be the first Welsh club to make it to a European Group/League stage.
Meanwhile, Bala Town, Caernarfon Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads all have a decent chance of making it through to the second qualifying round of the Conference League this week.
More success for the Welsh clubs will boost the country’s coefficient and go a long way towards securing that coveted top 50 spot which will seal a fourth Euro berth in 2026-27.
FIXTURES
Wednesday, July 17
Crusaders (0) v Caernarfon Town (2)
at Seaview, 7.45 pm
Thursday, July 18
Paide Linnameeskond (2) v Bala Town (1)
at Pärnu Rannastaadion, 5.30 pm
Connah’s Quay Nomads (1) v NK Bravo (0)
at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor, 6.30 pm
Crusaders (0) Caernarfon Town (2)
Caernarfon Town face their first European away day as they travel to Seaview in Northern Ireland for the second leg of their UEFA Conference League first qualifying round tie against Crusaders tonight (Wednesday, KO 7:45pm BST).
The first leg at Nantporth could not have gone much better for the Cofis, as Morgan Owen opened the scoring with a superb strike after just four minutes before Zack Clarke doubled the lead before half-time in a 2-0 win.
Crusaders were swiftly back in action following their first leg defeat in Wales, with Declan Caddell’s side boosting their confidence with a 4-1 victory in a friendly against fellow Northern Irish side Comber Rec on Saturday.
Paide Linnameeskond (2) Bala Town (1)
Bala must come from behind if they are to progress in the UEFA Conference League, after the Lakesiders were beaten 2-1 by Paide Linnameeskond in the first leg of their tie at Park Hall.
The visitors led 2-0 in Oswestry, but a 95th-minute penalty from Joshua Ukek gave Colin Caton’s side a lifeline ahead of their trip to Estonia. Kick-off is 5:30pm BST at Pärnu Rannastaadion.
Bala’s last two wins (in 90 minutes) in Europe have come away from home – against Valletta and Sligo Rovers – so they will hope to turn the tie around.
Connah’s Quay Nomads (1) NK Bravo (0)
Neil Gibson’s Nomads are the only JD Cymru Premier side playing on Welsh soil in the second leg as they host NK Bravo at Nantporth on Thursday (KO 6:30pm BST).
Summer signing Ben Maher came off the bench to score an 83rd-minute goal to earn the Deesidera potentially crucial 1-0 win in Slovenia last week.
The Nomads will now aim to progress from a European tie for the first time since 2019 when they famously defeated Scottish side Kilmarnock.