NS Mura take on St Patrick's Athletic in the second leg of their Europa Conference League second qualifying round clash on Thursday.
The Slovenian side earned a respectable 1-1 draw in Dublin last week to make themselves favourites to progress on home soil.
Match preview
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The Irish side gave themselves an upwards battle after only 29 minutes when Harry Brockbank's under-hit back-pass was intercepted by Mirlind Daku, who showed an excellent turn of pace and composure to round his opposing goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net from a tight angle.
Daku almost doubled his side's lead after the break but blazed over under pressure from Tom Grivosti, before Chris Forrester's superb touch and left-footed volley crashed in off the underside of the bar to level proceedings moments prior to the hour mark.
With time running out in injury time, Mark Doyle saw red for the hosts after an altercation off the ball. Ultimately, Mura's greater recent experience in European competition paid dividends as they held on for a fine result.
Indeed, the fourth-best side in Slovenia caused quite the stir in last season's inaugural Europa Conference League campaign when they famously defeated 2019 Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Fazanerija.
Head coach Damir Contala will be counting on a vociferous atmosphere on Thursday to help his team into the next round of qualifying, with a second successive place in the group stage potentially awaiting them thereafter.
Given that St Patrick's have failed to progress past the qualifying stages of European competition since losing to Hertha Berlin in the UEFA Cup in 2008, last Thursday's draw at home to Mura could end up being seen as a major missed opportunity should the return leg go as expected.
However, all is not lost for Ireland's second-best side yet having dominated the vast majority of the proceedings at Richmond Park.
Manager Tim Clancy will be keen to ensure that his side play in a similar manner to the first leg, only adding greater composure in front of goal while reducing the aforementioned major errors which saw St Patrick's concede an early goal before losing a man late on.
In 34-year-old Eoin Doyle, who joined from Bolton Wanderers in January, Saints do have a striker who can crucially gobble up any chances which may come his way.
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Team News
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Contala is unlikely to make any changes to the side which earned a solid draw in Ireland last week.
Daku appears to be a forward in red hot form right now, with the 24-year-old's burgeoning confidence bolstered by a brace against NK Domzale at the weekend.
Clancy, meanwhile, is forced to replace forward Mark Doyle after the 23-year-old's needless dismissal earned him a suspension.
Ronan Coughlan could be the man to be called upon alongside Eoin Doyle in attack.
NS Mura possible starting lineup:
Obradovic; Beganovic, Marusko, Morris, Pucko; Cipot, Lorbek, Bobicanec, Kous; Petkovic, Daku
St Patrick's Athletic possible starting lineup:
Anang; Brockbank, Grivosti, Redmond, Breslin; Cotter, Timmermans, O'Reilly, Forrester; Coughlan, Doyle
We say: NS Mura 2-1 St Patrick's Athletic
We expect the Slovenians to have too much for their opponents on home territory.
However, it is likely to be a game decided by the smallest of margins, with Daku's searing pace and ability in front of goal likely to prove the difference.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Brett Curtis
