St Josephs FC vs Cliftonville Predictions

• Cliftonville haven’t won an away game across UEFA’s three competitions
• St Joseph’s have drawn three of their last four home European games
• The visitors won only six of 20 away games domestically last season

Cliftonville could slip up on the road

Cliftonville are backed to kick off their new campaign with a victory on Tuesday, as they head to Gibraltar to face St Joseph’s in the UEFA Conference League’s first qualifying round.

The hosts were unfortunate to land in this competition, having lost out on the title on goal difference after finishing level with Lincoln Red Imps. They won 21 of 25 domestic games, while they meet a side that made it into Europe through the back door.

Cliftonville finished seventh in the Northern Irish Premiership last term, playing out the campaign in the relegation group with the bottom six after the league split. However, they won the end-of-season Conference League playoff to secure a spot in Europe.

Overall, Cliftonville won just six of 20 trips in the Premiership, while their only first-round win in a proper UEFA competition came against Luxembourg’s Differdange in 2016. The visitors have never won an away game across UEFA’s three competitions, while they’ve fallen at the first hurdle in their last three European campaigns.

St Joseph’s have drawn three of their last four home games in Europe. That includes meetings with Irish side Shelbourne and NI outfit Larne. On both occasions, those sides went on to win their domestic divisions. Cliftonville aren’t close to that level, so back the hosts to get a result.