Europa Conference League Qualifier Preview: Ferencvaros -v- Shamrock Rovers

• Macdara Ferris
• Wed, Jul 26 2023




Macdara Ferris reports from Budapest

FERENCVAROS

If there was surprise that the Hoops exited the Champions League at the hands of part-time Icelandic side Breidablik in the first qualifying round, it was nothing to the shock of five-in-a-row Hungarian champions Ferencvaros being eliminated by the Faroe Island champions KI Klaksvik at the same stage.

That defeat sets up this clash in Budapest that has a 6pm kick-off time in Ireland.

Having drawn the first leg of their Champions League qualifier away in the Faroes, Fradi found themselves 3-0 down at half-time in the second leg in Budapest and with no way back were dumped into the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

The 34 times Hungarian champions saw their Russian manager Stanislav Cherchesov, who led his home nation at the 2018 World Cup, leave the club after this humiliating loss.

The Hungarian champions have played group stage football in each of the last four seasons - Champions League in 2020 and Europa League on the other three occasions. Last year they reached the last 16 of the Europa League where they were eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen.

The Green Eagles quickly made an internal appointment promoting their B-team manager Csaba Máté who comes in for his second spell as manager.

"The outcome of the game against the Faroe Islands team and the result itself was a huge disappointment,” said the new Ferencvaros manager. “Tthat's what the players have to process now, because they were also hugely disappointed.

“The most important thing is to have due respect for the opponent (Shamrock Rovers). We have to try to rectify the huge disappointment we have caused the fans. We want to regain the trust of our fans because we need their support.”

At the pre-match press conference Máté noted the importance of the game and progression in Europe as the losing side will exit Europe.“The safety net is out from under us. We have to win this match because it is the most important thing for the club.”

His goalkeeper and club captain Dénes Dibusz admitted that “everyone was affected by the defeat against the (team from the) Faroes, which was such a slap that one cannot get over from one day to the next. This all took a toll on everyone. We put ourselves in a very difficult situation. 

"The last two days, however, the signs in training indicated that we will get out of this situation. I am confident that the team will show a different face on Thursday night and we will be able to win this very important meeting.”

Rovers came up against Ferencvaros in the Europa League play-off round last August, losing 4-0 in Budapest in the first leg and winning 1-0 in the return leg in Tallaght. The Hungarian champions went on to progress beyond the group stages of the Europa League, only to be eliminated in the last 16 by eventual semi-finalsist Bayer Leverkusen.

The bulk of Ferencvaros squad from that campaign is still playing with the Budapest club including Adama Traore who scored twice against the Hoops in Hungary last year.

This month the Hungarian side were caught cold by Klaksvik in what was Ferencvaros’ first two competitive games of the season and their domestic league does not start until the weekend after this upcoming European tie.

The first leg is taking a place three weeks earlier than last year’s match between the two teams. So the Hoops will hope that Fradi are yet to get fully up and running.

Who are Shamrock Rovers’ Europa Conference League qualifier opponents Ferencvaros? https://t.co/LYRcsnWZrRpic.twitter.com/8Q5MiHg8nE

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SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops face a very tough task when they take on Ferencvaros in Europe for the second year running. When Rovers played them last season, it was in the Europa League play-off round knowing that if they lost that tie they’d be playing group stage football in the Europa Conference League.

This time around they know defeat in the tie would see them exit out of Europe after just four games, compared with 14 last season, and would see them earn less than a quarter of the €4m they banked from their European run last year.

Rovers haven’t a win – and have only scored one goal – in their last five competitive games across Europe and domestically in the league and FAI Cup.

It is their worst goalscoring run since 2016.

Under then manager Pat Fenlon they went five games scoring only one goal - losing 1-0 at home to Derry City, a scoreless draw against St. Pat’s in Tallaght, defeating Galway United away 1-0 and losing to Cork City twice (5-0 at home in the FAI Cup and 3-0 away in the league).

Rovers were beaten in the FAI Cup by Dundalk for the third time in seven seasons when they lost 1-0 in Oriel Park on Sunday but Stephen Bradley was happy with his side’s performance based on the number of chances created.

They had nine shots on target from the 22 taken.

“We know as a team we need to take those opportunities and there is no getting away from that or glossing over that. When you are successful you make those opportunities count and we didn't on Sunday and it cost us unfortunately in a competition we wanted to go far in. 

“We can't be too hard on ourselves as our performance for large parts of the game was good.”

They face a Ferencvaros side with a new manager which is some help to the Hoops according to Bradley.

“Any little advantage you can get at this level helps. If they are unsettled in any way and we can take advantage of that in any way, we will try but whatever way you look at it we are up against a top team and we know that. 

Having lost the first leg of last year’s Europa League play-off to Ferencvaros away, the Hoops won 1-0 in Tallaght but Bradley acknowledge they likely stepped off the gas for the return leg.

“No doubt they would have. Their mindset would be different but it is about what we can affect and our performance and certain things we did in the first leg to the second leg were night and day. I've no doubt they came down a level or two (in Tallaght) I think we learned from that.”

The winner of this tie will play the winner of the Hamrun Spartans (Malta) and Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia) tie in the third qualifying round and move their earnings from UEFA over the one million euro mark (to €1.11m). The losers will exit Europe having banked €810,000.

Progression one round further into the play-off round would guarantee that side €1.41m, while the prize of group stage qualification is worth a minimum of €3.34m.

Stephen Bradley: ‘We've been doubted before and we'll be doubted again but come see us in November and see where we are’ - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/UYXA48wrzx

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 26, 2023

Referee: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan (Armenia)

MATCH STATS

The Hoops have scored just one goal in their last five games and that was when VAR handed them a penalty in Iceland. As they are now in the Europa Conference League qualifiers, there will be no VAR this week – it is only in use in this competition from the play-off round and beyond.

Rovers are seeking just their tenth European win away from home from the 52 away matches they’ve played since 1957. Of the nine away victories that have claimed, Stephen Bradley has led the Hoops in three – 1-0 in Iceland against Stjarnan in 2017 and two away wins last season (2-0 against Teuta and 2-1 v Shkupi).

Stephen Bradley has managed the Hoops in 35 European matches - winning a dozen. No League of Ireland manager has won more matches in Europe. Stephen Kenny also has 12 victories from his 44 matches.

No League of Ireland player has played more games in Europe than Rovers skipper Ronan Finn. He made his 61st appearance in Europe in last week’s game in Iceland. Sean Gannon is tied in second place with Gary Rogers on 54 European appearances.

Graham Burke has the Rovers record for goals in Europe with eight. His goal in Iceland last week moved him solo in fourth spot in the all-time League of Ireland goalscorers in Europe record behind Jason Byrne (10), Glenn Crowe (11) and David McMillan (14). Rory Gaffney is second in Rovers’ list of European scorers with five goals.

Rovers have only been involved in seven scoreless draws in Europe from the 106 matches they have played in Europe dating back to their first game in 1957 (against Manchester United). Two of those 0-0s were last season when the Hoops drew away to Hibernians of Malta in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers (having won the home leg 3-0) and in the Europa Conference League group game against Djurgardens in Tallaght.

In their 52 European away matches, they have scored 41 goals including Graham Burke’s penalty last week.

Both clubs were founded in 1899.

PREDICTION

3-1 home win

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Rory Gaffney, Jack Byrne, Neil Farrugia, Trevor Clarke

Doubtful: Simon Power

Suspended: None

Hurt hoops hoping to bounce back on Rovers return to Budapest - Dan Cleary: ‘We are hurting at the minute with recent results but we are confident we can get a result’ https://t.co/pSCFxL8fDypic.twitter.com/4rxPqOaR0F

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 27, 2023