Here is all you need to know ahead of Shamrock Rovers Champions League qualifier clash against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday
The first-round qualifier match will take place at 17:30 on Wednesday, 7th July in the National Stadium in Slovakia. Shamrock Rovers will live stream the match on the link here
https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/livestream/
Rovers are past the halfway stage in the league and they sit on top. They are ahead of Sligo Rovers by goal difference due to some patchy form recently.
In the last few weeks, injuries have been the main concern for Stephen Bradley’s team, and this week they will miss midfielders, Chris McCann and Neil Farrugia.
Manager Bradley said at a press conference: “We’ve had a tough time the last five or six weeks in terms of injuries, there’s no getting away from that but it’s great to start seeing the players coming back.”
“It’s important to have everyone available as much as possible because between now and the end of the season there’s going to be a lot of big games.”
Although Bratislava has a very good team, this will be their first match since the end of May. They will be physically ready, but will they be mentally?
These two sides have not faced each other in recent history so these two legs could be an unpredictable, interesting affair.
🏆 𝐔𝐄𝐅𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐄𝐆 |
Details have been confirmed for our UEFA Champions League 1st Qualifying Round 2nd leg tie:
Shamrock Rovers vs SK Slovan Bratislava
Tallaght Stadium
Tuesday 13th July
8pm pic.twitter.com/4B6BFhVTzV— Tipperary Hoops (@TipperaryHoops) June 29, 2021
Predicted Line-ups
Shamrock Rovers
Formation
5-3-2
Predicted Starting 11
Mannus (GK), Gannon, Grace, Lopes, Hoare, Scales, Finn, O’Neil, Burke, Greene, Gaffney
Injuries/Suspensions
McCann, Farrugia
SK Slovan Bratislava
Formation
4-2-1-3
Predicted Starting 11
Greif (GK), De Marco, Bozhikov, Abena, Paushek, Rabiu, de Kamps, Holman, Ratao, Strelec, Daniel
Injuries/ Suspensions
None
Shamrock Rovers defender Liam Scales (22) really is something else 🇮🇪⚽️🔥#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/eOMWugcYEO
— Kenny's Kids (@KennysKids) July 2, 2021
Betting
Shamrock Rovers are unlikely to grab a win away from home with odds of 5/1.
For the game to end in a draw, the odds are 3/1.
Slovan Bratislava is the bookmakers’ clear favorite with odds of 1/2 to win.
Score Prediction
Now that the ‘away goal’ rules have been removed from the Champions League, Bradley’s side’s job is not to score but the keep the score line low.
The manager says that they understand their opponents so expect the game to end 1-0 to Slovan Bratislava as they have their home fans as an advantage.
“We know what they’re about, they’re a very good side but it’s one that excites us and one that we’re looking forward to,” added Bradley.
