Conference League Preview: St. Patrick’s Athletic -v- Vaduz

Saints skipper Joe Redmond warming up ahead of the St. Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians league game in Richmond Park in June 2024

Saints skipper Joe Redmond warming up ahead of the St. Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians league game in Richmond Park in June 2024 Credit: Matthew Lysaght (ETPhotos)

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The struggles this season for the Saints have continued under new boss Stephen Kenny and they come into Thursday’s game seventh in the league and having lost their FAI Cup crown after a demoralising 3-0 defeat at the hands of Derry City last weekend.

But some of the best times for the Tallaght man in his managerial career have come in Europe so the Saints could kick-start the Kenny era tonight with a good performance and a win against the Lichtenstein cup holders (kick-off 7.45pm). 

The game is a sell out - the UEFA requirements for all seated spectators adding to the speed of the sold out signs going up.

The Saints hope to catch Vaduz cold having only started their season – playing in the Swiss second tier – last Friday. 

“They were in the group stages two years ago, so they have had good results,” said Kenny speaking on the eve of the game with the Irish Independent.

“They got some points in that league as well, against Ukrainian opponents and beat Rapid Vienna (en-route to group stage qualification), so they have had some good results, but last year they were knocked out early.

"From our point of view it's an opportunity to get a big European win, all the European wins are cherished and appreciated by St Pat's supporters, it would be good for the team to get a victory in these two legs.”

The winner of this tie will take on either Maccabi Haifa of Israel or FC Sabah of Azerbaijan in the third qualifying round. 

VADUZ



With Swiss man Marc Schneider in charge Vaduz have a host of Liechtensteiner internationals in their side. Schneider sets his team up each week with a back four and last season they finished third in the Swiss second tier.

Their decade’s long run of dominance in the Liechtenstein Cup continued in the last campaign and, like the Saints, earned the right to enter the second qualifying round of the Conference League by winning their domestic cup.

They began their league campaign with a scoreless draw with Stade Nyonnais on Friday night.

Referee: Tom Owen (Wales)

PREDICTION



St. Patrick’s Athletic 1 – 1 Vaduz

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