F91 Dudelange will welcome KF Tirana to Luxembourg on Wednesday evening for the first leg of their first qualifying round contest in the Champions League.
The hosts are the reigning champions of the Luxembourg National Division, while Tirana won their 26th top-flight Albanian league title last term.
Match preview
Dudelange finished top of the Luxembourg National Division last season by collecting 67 points from 30 matches, which allowed them to qualify for the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
Carlos Fangueiro's side actually competed in the group stage of the Europa League in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, finishing fourth in their section on both occasions.
The Luxembourg outfit only made the second qualifying round of the 2021-22 Europa Conference League, though, losing 4-0 to Bohemians.
In total, Dudelange have featured on 38 occasions in the Champions League, suffering 24 defeats in the process, which is an indication of the size of the task facing them in this two-legged affair.
The home side will be looking to claim an advantage ahead of the return fixture next week, and Fangueiro's team would take on either Pyunik or CFR Cluj in the second qualifying round if they managed to progress.
Tirana, meanwhile, won Albania's top flight for the 26th time last season, and they are comfortably the most successful team in their country in terms of league titles.
Tirona are also the most successful Albanian side in European competition, reaching the round of 16 on three occasions in the European Cup during the 1980s.
Orges Shehi's side fell in the second qualifying round of last season's Champions League, losing to Red Star Belgrade, while they lost in the playoffs in the Europa League last term to Young Boys.
Tirana have played 41 Champions League matches during their history, suffering 29 defeats in the process, and they will the underdogs to reach the group stage of this year's competition.
The visitors were last in action on June 25 against Fenerbahce in a pre-season friendly, suffering a 4-0 defeat to the Turkish giants.
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Team News
Dudelange are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 formation for this match, with Mohcine Nader and Samir Hadji potentially featuring in the final third of the field.
Eliot Gashi is set to be one of four midfielders, with Edis Agovic also in line to feature, while Jules Diouf could play in a defensive area for the home side on Wednesday night.
As for Tirana, Florent Hasani will lead the line, and the 25-year-old could be joined in attack by Arbder Bytyqi, with Aldi Gjumsi and Redon Xhixha set to start on the bench.
Head coach Shehi has a number of attacking options, with Devid De Santana Silva also pushing for a spot in the XI, with the visitors potentially also starting in a 4-4-2 formation.
Ardit Hila and Albano Aleksi will fill two of the midfield positions, while Ennur Totre is also set to feature in the first XI for the visitors, who have not reported any major injury concerns.
F91 Dudelange possible starting lineup:
Fox; Kirch, Stumpf, Diouf, Mendes; Gashi, Agovic, Antunes, Lima; Nader, Hadji
KF Tirana possible starting lineup:
Lika; Tosevski, Iseni, Najdovski, Pergjoni; Aleksi, Hila, Totre, Limaj; Hasani, Bytyqi
We say: F91 Dudelange 1-2 KF Tirana
Tirana will be the favourites to progress from this two-legged affair, and the visitors will be expecting to claim an advantage on Wednesday. Dudelange have enough quality to score, but we are backing a 2-1 victory for the Albanian outfit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
