Champions League Preview: Slovan Bratislava -v- Shamrock Rovers

Slovan Bratislava celebrating their win over Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium in 2019

Slovan Bratislava celebrating their win over Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium in 2019 Credit: Al Robinson (ETPhotos)

SLOVAN BRATISLAVA

Slovan have a rich European football history having won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1969 beating Barcelona in Basil. They have made the groups stages of the Europa League three times in the last decade.

In the 2019 they defeated Dundalk (1-0 at home and 3-1 in Tallaght) in the Europa League third qualifying round and Greek side PAOK in the play-off round to make the group stages where they earned four points (from a win over Besiktas at home and a 2-2 draw away to Braga).

Last year, they had to forfeit their fixture against Faroe Island side KI due to a positive COVID-19 test in their squad and then lost to 4-3 on penalties to Finnish side KuPS after their one-legged tie ended 1-1 after 120 minutes so they will be hoping to fair better this season. 

The winners of this tie will play Swiss side Young Boys in the next qualifying round of the Champions League with the matches set for 20/21 and 27/28 July.

Slovan are still in pre-season with their first league fixture not until 24 July and they will miss David Holman for this first match of the season due to injury.

The Hungarian international midfielder’s experience will be missed having also played in the Europa League group stages previously during his time with Lech Poznan. 

The home side is managed by Vladimir Weiss who previously led the Slovakian national team between 2008 and 2012 and Georgia from 2016 to 2020.

When his teams came up against Irish opposition they didn’t fair too well – as they failed to win a game in the eight matches played against the Republic of Ireland.

SHAMROCK ROVERS 

The Hoops play their first Champions League qualifier since 2012 on Wednesday when they take on Slovan Bratislava (kick off 5.30pm Irish time). 

The 2020 champions come into the tie top of the Premier Division table and on the back of a confidence boosting 3-1 home win over Dundalk last Friday – stopping the rot of four home fixtures without a win.

It is a tough task that awaits them in the Slovakian National Stadium against the side that have won the Super Liga three seasons in a row including back-to-back doubles in the last two years.

"They're obviously a really good side,” said Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley speaking on Monday during the club’s media day ahead of the team travelling to Bratislava on Tuesday. “They dominate Slovakian football, and they have real quality all over the pitch, top level quality with internationals. But we're excited by it. 

“It's the first time the club has been in a Champions League game for quite some time so as a group we're really excited by it. We know it's difficult but we're looking forward to it. "



"We've watched quite a lot of them. The staff have watched ten games from them, obviously their games last week and their games in the back end of last season so we have quite a lot of information and the players have seen them as well.

"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."

Rovers recent injury concerns have eased and the addition of Richie Towell means Bradley has more options than he had last month. Only Neil Farrugia and Chris McCann did not travel to Bratislava.

"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. We were able to introduce Dylan (Watts), Danny (Mandroiu) and Joey (O’Brien) which is really strong. It was great to get them back on the pitch. 

“Dylan was in fantastic form before he got injured and it was good to get Danny on, with the knock that he had. Joey is important to us too so 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."

Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (Austria)

MATCH STATS
Stephen Kenny was the man in charge at Rovers when the Hoops last played in the Champions League qualifiers. There was no backdoor route into the Europa League in 2012 and so when Rovers lost 2-1 on aggregate to Lithuanian side Ekranas they were out of Europe at the first hurdle compared with playing a dozen games the previous season when they qualified for the Europa League group stages.

Like Shamrock Rovers, Slovan qualified for the Europa League groups stages for the first time in 2011. They beat Roma en-route to the groups stages where, like Rovers, they finished bottom of their group. 

Graham Burke is the joint all-time top goalscorer for Shamrock Rovers in Europe with four goals alongside Liam Tuohy and Billy Dixon. Dixon scored six goals in Europe including two with Drumcondra. Pico Lopes is just one goal further back from Burke's tally.

PREDICTION

2-1 home win

Slovan Bratislava

Injured: David Holman 

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None 

Shamrock Rovers 

Injured: Neil Farrugia, Chris McCann

Doubtful: None  

Suspended: None

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile