Europa League Preview: St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Jeunesse-Esch

• Thomas Sargent
• Mon, Jun 27 2016



ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
St. Patrick’s Athletic welcome Jeunesse-Esch of Luxembourg to Richmond Park this Tuesday in the first-leg of the UEFA Europa League Qualifying First Round.
 
The Pat's management and faithful will be hoping that they can go at least one better than last season, when they were dumped out of the competition by Skonto Riga.
 
The Europa League has the potential to provide Pat's with some much needed cheer as they languish in mid-table of the League of Ireland Premier Division as a result of a topsy-turvy season so far.
 
Friday’s 2-0 defeat versus Dundalk at Oriel Park was by no means the best warm up for Tuesday’s match but a new competition can turn fortunes in a season. Buckley certainly thinks so and he believes his side's current form won't be an issue on Tuesday.
 
“It doesn't help confidence from that end,” Buckley told Extratime.ie. “That said, it's a separate issue. It's a different competition, it's like when you're playing in the cup and you're playing in the league. It [requires] a fresh head, I want them all coming in with a fresh head tomorrow evening and see can we get through the tie.
 
“Listen, teams lose two and three games, it's just unfortunate from our end of it,” Buckley continued. “In fairness, Dundalk played well the other night. There wasn't a lot in it for 75 minutes, they got a couple of late goals. That said, from our end of it, we do need to knuckle down and get our work done and we've got to pick ourselves up. The only ones who can change results are us.”
 
AS JEUNESSE-ESCH
AS Jeunesse-Esch make the trip to Ireland from the Luxembourg border with France with their own high hopes of going through to round two.
 
They too warmed up for this match with a defeat, losing a friendly match 0-1 versus FC Déifferdéng 03.
 
Jeunesse, as they are commonly referred to, qualified for this year's competition by coming fourth in the Luxembourg Nationaldivisioun. Despite not having won the national title since the 2009/10 season, Jeunesse have lots of pedigree having won the championship a massive 28 times.
 
The Luxembourg league operates a winter schedule so Jeunesse might be a little short of sharpness compared to the Saints. This is further highlighted by the fact that Jeunesse have failed to score in their two warm-up matches prior to this game.
 
Referee: Pavel Orel (Cze).
 
 
TICKETS: The club website says tickets will be available Monday, from 9am-5.30pm, and from 9am until kick-off on Tuesday.
 
 
MATCH FACTS
Pat's most experienced player at this level is Ger O’Brien with 20 appearances in European competition. Christy Fagan is their top goal scorer with 5 goals in UEFA competition to his name.
 
Jeunesse’s only other match versus Irish opposition came in 2014 when Dundalk saw them off at the same stage of the competition 5-1 on aggregate.
 
22-year old Ricardo Delgado was called up to the Luxembourg national side last season. Nine players left Jeunesse’s squad from last season and eight new players have recently come in.
 
 
BETTING
St. Patrick’s Athletic 1/2; Draw 14/5; AS Jeunesse-Esch 5/1.
 
 
PREDICTION
St. Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 AS Jeunesse-Esch.
 
 
St. Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: Conor O'Malley (thigh strain), Jack Bayly (hamstring strain).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
 
AS Jeunesse-Esch
Injured: Marvin Martins.
Doubtful: Johannes Kühne.
Suspended: None.