Preview: FC Differdange 03 vs The New Saints - prediction, team news, lineups

Fighting for their European dream in the second leg of their Conference League second round qualifier, FC Differdange 03 will host The New Saints at Stade Parc des Sports Oberkorn on Tuesday.

The champions of Luxembourg have a lead to protect, but Wales' TNS have been impressive on the road in 2025.

Match preview

Pedro Silva's Differdange have not reached the third qualifying round of any UEFA competition for more than 10 years, but they only need to avoid defeat to progress.

In getting to this stage, Silva's side were beaten home and away in their Champions League first round qualifying tie by Kosovar club Drita, and dropped down into the Conference League as a result.

In last week's first leg, Differdange triumphed 1-0 over New Saints thanks to a first-half strike from Artur Abreu Pereira, and the manager will be pleased that his team were able to take an advantage into the home leg despite having just 27% possession.

Picturing a place in the 2025-26 league phase, the hosts will take confidence from the fact that they went unbeaten on their own turf for more than a full calendar year prior to their single European loss on July 15.

However, fans would be forgiven for any lingering doubts given that they lost two of their last three matches, a record that contrasts starkly with their opponents' excellent away form.

Meanwhile, Craig Harrison's New Saints are hoping to qualify for the tournament proper once again after reaching the league phase in 2024-25, but they have their work cut out to overcome the deficit.

On their way to this Conference League qualifying tie, TNS were knocked out of the Champions League process when they lost 2-1 on aggregate to North Macedonian side Shkendija.

New Saints performed admirably in that tie against Ballistet and even had a would-have-been winner ruled out for offside before being felled by a 116th-minute own goal in the second leg.

After a frustrating clash against Differdange last Wednesday, Harrison said that he was 'bitterly disappointed' by the fact that his team managed 73% possession yet failed to score despite their dominance.

This time around, the visitors will be quietly hopeful of winning in the second leg considering that they were victorious in eight of their nine away matches prior to their clash against Shkendija.

FC Differdange 03 Conference League form:

FC Differdange 03 form (all competitions):

The New Saints Conference League form:

The New Saints form (all competitions):

Team News

After scoring the only goal of the first leg, Artur Abreu Pereira should start alongside Samir Hadji and Boris Mfoumou in the Differdange frontline.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Kevin D'Anzico, Theo Brusco and Juan Bedouret will make Silva's back three, with Geoffrey Franzoni and Dylan Lempereur at wing-back.

As for New Saints, they could be without right-back Harvey Godsmark-Ford after he was taken off with an injury last week, so expect to see Kade Craig join Harrison McGahey, Jack Bodenham and Jordan Marshall in the backline.

In the centre of the park, Daniel Redmond should captain the side alongside Daniel Williams and Dominic Corness on Tuesday.

FC Differdange 03 possible starting lineup:

Felipe; D'Anzico, Brusco, Bedouret; Franzoni, Leandro, Pinto, Lempereur; Abreu, Hadji, Mfoumou

The New Saints possible starting lineup:

Shepperd; Craig, McGahey, Bodenham, Marshall; D Williams, Redmond, Corness; Brobell, Wilson, J Williams