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T.N.S. vs Skendija Tetovo Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

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The New Saints
Skendija Tetovo

odds when tipped

odds when tipped

The New Saints vs Skendija Tetovo Predictions

The New Saints are relative veterans of European qualifying matches now but they also have plenty of experience of falling at the first hurdle and a repeat seems inevitable here. The winners of this tie will face opposition from either Georgia or Moldova in the next round and almost certainly it will be Shkendija who advance.

The 1st Leg in Macedonia last week was a very one-sided affair. Izair Emini scored early for the hosts before striker Besart Ibraimi set off on a one-man mission to kill the tie before the 2nd Leg. He netted four goals as Shkendija ran out 5-0 winners to leave TNS with an absolute mountain to climb this week.

Shkendija could opt to rest players should they wish but given their league season is still some way off starting, there seems little point. They will want to build fitness and momentum heading into the next round and the gulf in class that existed in the 1st Leg may well be evident again.

The Macedonian champions are pretty experienced European campaigners now and have impressed in the Europa League qualifying rounds in each of the last two seasons. They won through three ties last term before falling to Italian giants Milan in the play-off round, having also exited at the same hurdle in 2016. The calibre of most of the sides they beat was greater than that of The New Saints so it’s no surprise to see them bossing this tie.

It’s likely to be much closer in the 2nd Leg with TNS holding home advantage but it’s still hard to see the Welsh Premier League side avoiding defeat. They have won their 1st Qualifying Round ties in each of the last three seasons but the change in format has led to a much tougher game this time around and the opposition is more on the kind of level they faced in the 2nd Qualifying Round last term, when Rijeka hammered them 7-1 on aggregate.

Any hopes that home advantage will make a difference certainly aren’t backed up by their home results in this competition last term. They actually lost at home to Europa of Gibraltar before winning the away leg to progress, while 5 of the 7 goals they conceded against Rijeka actually came in Oswestry in the 2nd Leg.

The omens aren’t good for them here then and given what happened in Macedonia last week, the value looks to lie with backing a Shkendija Win.

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