F91 Dudelange will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their first qualifying round Champions League contest with KF Tirana on Tuesday night.
The Luxembourg National Division champions recorded a 1-0 victory when the two teams locked horns in the first leg courtesy of a second-half header from Mohcine Hassan.
Match preview
Tirana have it all to do on Tuesday following their defeat in the first leg, but they have previous when it comes to this competition, famously reaching the last-16 stage of the European Cup on three occasions in the 1980s.
The 26-time Albanian champions lost to Young Boys in the Europa League playoffs in 2020-21, while they were beaten by Red Star Belgrade in the second qualifying round for the Champions League in the same season.
Tirana are comfortably the most successful Albanian side in terms of top-flight league titles, but they did not win the trophy for 10 years before triumphing in 2019-20 and then again in 2021-22.
Orges Shehi's side would take on either FC Pyunik or CFR Cluj in the second qualifying round if they managed to turn the tie around against Dudelange on Tuesday night.
Tirana were victorious in their last participation in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, meanwhile, beating Dinamo Tbilisi 2-0 on aggregate in 2020-21.
Dudelange advanced to the first qualifying round of this season's Champions League by finishing top of the Luxembourg National Division last season, collecting 67 points from 30 matches.
The Luxembourg outfit competed in the group stage of the Europa League in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, finishing fourth in their section on both occasions, but before the first leg of this contest, they had not played a Champions League fixture since losing to Valletta in the first qualifying round in 2019.
Carlos Fangueiro's side failed to make an impression in Europe last season, though, as they lost to Bohemians 4-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round for the Europa Conference League.
Dudelange, who are due to begin their league campaign on August 6, are 16-time Luxembourg National Division winners, so they are certainly a team used to winning football matches.
Fangueiro's side have also placed themselves in a strong position to reach the next round of this competition courtesy of their one-goal success in the first leg at Stade Los Nosbaum.
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Team News
Tirana have not reported any injury concerns from the first leg, but the Albanian side will be without the services of Vessel Limaj through suspension due to his red card last time out.
Limaj's spot in midfield could be taken by Klevi Qefalija, but the team might otherwise be unchanged from the one that took to the field for the opening match.
A 4-3-3 formation is expected to see Devid feature at the tip of the attack, with the 26-year-old likely to be supported by Taulant Seferi and Redon Xhixha.
As for Dudelange, Mehdi Kirch will miss out due to his red card in the first leg, which could open the door for Sylvio Ouassiero to come into the side.
Hassan, who scored the only goal of the first leg, is again expected to feature in a front two with Samir Hadji despite competition from Chris Stumpf and Francisco Ninte Junior in the attacking areas.
KF Tirana possible starting lineup:
Bekaj; Tosevski, Najdovski, Behiratche, Ismajlgeci; Aleksi, Totre, Qefalija; Seferi, David, Xhixha
F91 Dudelange possible starting lineup:
Fox; Da Costa, Diouf, Skenderovic; Gashi, Bojic, Sinani, Morren, Ouassiero; Hassan, Hadji
We say: KF Tirana 1-1 F91 Dudelange
Dudelange already have a one-goal advantage from the first leg, and we believe that could be crucial when it comes to the final result here. We are backing a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening, which would be enough for Dudelange to advance to the next round courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate success.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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