Northern Irish outfit Linfield will welcome Swiss champions FC Zurich to Windsor Park for the first leg of their Europa League qualifier on Thursday night.
Both sides have dropped down from the Champions League qualifiers after suffering defeats on aggregate to Bodo/Glimt and Qarabag respectively last week.
Match preview
Linfield claimed an impressive 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Bodo/Glimt two weeks ago, but they ended up suffering one of the heaviest defeats in their history in the reverse fixture.
The Blues were condemned to an 8-0 second-leg defeat in Norway last Wednesday, with Kirk Millar – who scored the only goal in the first leg – sent off after 21 minutes, while Bodo/Glimt netted four goals in each half to comfortably progress to the next round.
Former Premier League striker David Healy, who has been in charge of Linfield since 2015, is keen to move on from their battering in Bodo and believes that his side are capable of progressing to the Europa League group stage this term.
Linfield are yet to begin the defence of their NIFL Premiership title, but they did win both of their competitive home fixtures in the Champions League qualifiers last month, keeping a clean sheet on both occasions.
© Reuters
Zurich were also defeated in Champions League qualifying at the end of last month, as they suffered a 5-4 aggregate loss against Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag.
After losing 3-2 in the first leg held in Baku, FCZ could only play out a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture last Wednesday, ending their hopes of reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2009-10.
Zurich, who won their 13th Swiss Super League title last season, are yet to win any of their five competitive fixtures so far this term, including last weekend's 2-0 defeat at St Gallen.
Franco Foda's side are currently rock bottom of the top-flight standings after their opening three matches, six points behind leaders Young Boys who beat them 4-0 on the opening day last month.
FCZ will need to tighten up their backline if they are to prevail in Belfast on Thursday, as they have conceded at least twice in six of their last eight matches across all competitions as well as 12 in their last four away games.
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- D
- D
- L
Team News
Linfield will be without winger Kirk Millar due to suspension, while Joel Cooper and Jimmy Callacher are both set to remain sidelined with injuries.
Stephen Fallon could switch to the right flank in Millar's absence, with either Kyle McClean or Cammy Palmer brought into the side to start in centre-midfield.
As for Zurich, experienced midfielder Blerim Dzemaili is doubtful with an injury, so Cheick Conde could retain his place in the middle of the pitch.
Centre-back Becir Omeragic has recovered from a muscle injury and will be in contention to start ahead of either Lindrit Kamberi or Mirlind Kryeziu.
Summer signing Ivan Santini, who came off the bench to score his first goal for the club last week, will be hoping to force his way into the first XI ahead striker Aiyegun Tosin.
Linfield possible starting lineup:
Johns; Finlayson, Hall, Roscoe, Clarke; Mulgrew, Shields, McClean; Fallon, McDaid, Stewart
FC Zurich possible starting lineup:
Brecher; Boranijasevic, Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti; Selnaes, Conde, Guerrero; Rohner, Santini, Gnonto
We say: Linfield 1-1 FC Zurich
While Zurich will be regarded as the favourites for this encounter, Linfield should not be underestimated and have performed well on home soil in recent weeks.
A closely-fought contest is set to be played out on Thursday and both sides may settle for a score draw to keep themselves in the tie heading into next week's second leg.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
