All in all, it was a disappointing week for Welsh clubs in Europe as The New Saints, Haverfordwest County and Pen-y-bont all failed to win their opening matches.
It ended goallless between the Saints and the Macedonian champions in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, but Haverfordwest and Pen-y-bont both fell to a defeat in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
Due to the disappointing results Wales are once again in danger of losing one of their European allocations for the coming seasons.
Four teams from Wales will be eligible to play in Europe next season, but after that, the number may drop back down to three if TNS, Haverfordwest County and Pen-y-bont can’r turn things around in the second leg.
Shkëndija (0) v (0) The New Saints | Tuesday, 15 July – 19:00 (Live on S4C)
(Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje – Second Leg of Champions League First Qualifying Round 2025/26)
After an equal contest at Oswestry in the opening leg there is nothing to separate the champions of Wales and Macedonia ahead of the second leg in Skopje.
The Saints’ new forward, Ben Wilson had the best chance of the match midway through the second half, but Gambia’s international goalkeeper, Baboucarr Gaye stood firm and saved the low shot superbly with his left foot.
The visitors also threatened for periods with Saints captain Daniel Redmond having to clear the ball off the line on two occasions to save his side.
This was the third consecutive goalless game for TNS in an European match at Park Hall, but both teams will have to go for it in the second leg at the North Macedonia national stadium.
KF Shkëndija won the Macedonian championship for the fifth time last season, but despite their domestic success, Shkëndija have never managed to get past the qualifying rounds in European competitions.
This is the second time that TNS have been drawn to face Shkëndija in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, and it was a very close contest last time in 2018.
Shkëndija eased to a 5-0 victory in the first leg in Skopje, but the Saints fought back in the second leg at Park Hall with the game ending 4-0, and the Macedonian champions scraping their way to the next round with a 5-4 aggregate win.
Five years later and Shkëndija faced Haverfordwest County in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, and the Pembrokeshire Bluebirds managed to beat the Macedonians on penalties at Cardiff City Stadium at the start of the 2023/24 season.
The New Saints are Wales’ most successful club in Europe as the club from Oswestry has played regularly in Europe since 1996.
Last year the Saints managed to get past the qualifying rounds for the first time ever and competed in the UEFA Conference League where they played against the likes of Panathinaikos and Fiorentina.
The Saints are certain to play two rounds in Europe again this year, and the club will be determined to repeat their feats and reach the UEFA Conference League once more.
The winners of this tie will face FCSB (Romania) or Inter Club d’Escaldes (Andorra) in the second qualifying round, while the losers will drop to the UEFA Conference League to face FC Drita (Kosovo) or FC Differdange (Luxembourg).
Haverfordwest County (1) v (2) Floriana | Thursday, 17 July – 18:00 (Live online)
(Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – Second Leg of UEFA Conference League First Qualifying Round 2025/26)
Haverfordwest County will be quite frustrated with the result of the first leg considering that the Bluebirds took the lead in Malta before conceding a minute before the break, and then losing the game through a debatable penalty.
Ben Ahmun headed into the back of the net to give the Pembrokeshire squad the lead after less than half an hour, but Gonzalo Gamarra leveled the score with his own header at the other end of the field late in the first half.
The controversial goal, and the winning goal came on the hour when the referee Szabolcs Kovacs from Hungary pointed to the spot indicating that Alaric Jones had tussled Lucas Lopez to the ground during a corner kick.
Jake Grech drove his effort past Luc Rees securing the advantage for the Maltese club before the second leg at Parc y Scarlets.
Haverfordwest County have reached Europe for the third time in their history after finishing last season in their highest position for 21 years by claiming third place with the league’s best defensive record.
Haverfordwest County are up against one of the most successful clubs in Malta’s history, Floriana, who have won the championship on 26 occasions.
Floriana won 4-3 over two legs against Aberystwyth Town in the 1999 Intertoto Cup, but since then the club have only won two of their 11 rounds in Europe.
The winners will advance to face Ballkani (Kosovo) in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
Pen-y-bont (0) v (3) Kauno Žalgiris | Thursday, 17 July – 18:00 (Live online)
(Leckwith Stadium, Cardiff – Second Leg of UEFA Conference League First Qualifying Round 2025/26)
It was always going to be a tough test for Rhys Griffiths’ team starting their campaign away from home against the Lithuanian league leaders, Kauno Žalgiris.
And although the Blues competed vigorously for the opening quarter of an hour, Pen-y-bont didn’t create any clear cut chances.
The first goal came after 18 minutes as Amine Benchaib drove quickly down the left and hit the ball across the face of the goal, and his squared pass cruelly deflected off Gabe Kircough into his own net.
It was 2-0 six minutes later after Gratas Sirgedas’ free kick flew over debutant goal-keeper, Luke Armstrong’s head into the back of the net.
Less than a minute after the break and Kauno Žalgiris scored their third through Damjan Pavlovic, and things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Mael Davies was sent off for his second yellow card offence after 65 minutes.
Pen-y-bont therefore have a mountain to climb, and Rhys Griffiths spoke honestly after the game admitting that his squad had been beaten by the better team on the night.
The club from the city of Kaunas, which is the second largest city in Lithuania, have never won the championship, but have shown consistency by finishing in the top four in each of the last six seasons.
Kauno Žalgiris have not experienced much success on the European stage, summarised by their 10-1 aggregate defeat against The New Saints four years ago.
The winners will advance to face Valur (Iceland) or Flora Tallinn (Estonia) in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
