Preview: The New Saints vs. Hacken - prediction, team news, lineups

The Swedish Allsvenskan and domestic cup champions proved too strong for their opponents at Bravida Arena last week.

Match preview

New Saints are regular representatives of Wales in these preliminary rounds of Europe's elite competition, having finished in the top three positions of the Welsh Premier League in every season since the turn of the century, including when retaining their title last time out.

However, they have only once made it beyond the second round of Champions League qualifying, which was when losing to Anderlecht in the third round in the 2010-11 campaign.

Craig Harrison's side suffered against an early Hacken storm in Stockholm last Wednesday, falling two goals behind inside the opening 13 minutes, but their situation was improved by Declan McManus pulling one back. Even Hovland, however, restored his side's two-goal lead four minutes later.

As such, the record 15-time Welsh champions have a proverbial mountain to climb in Shropshire on Tuesday, but an early goal could unsettle their opponents, who are unproven at this level.

Indeed, Hacken are competing in the Champions League for the first time after winning their maiden top-flight Swedish title last season.

Malmo have demonstrated that Swedish sides are capable of making it to the group stage of this competition by doing so on three occasions within the last decade, but no other team has done so since Helsinborg managed it in the 2000-01 season.

Per-Mathias Hogmo has enjoyed quite the journey since taking over as manager in 2021, turning Hacken from relegation battlers into champions of their domestic league and cup alike.

The 63-year-old will be determined to prove himself on a European scale now, though, and he will be safeguarding his players against complacency as they aim to navigate their way into the second round of qualifying on Tuesday.

The New Saints Champions League form:

L

The New Saints form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

L

L

Hacken Champions League form:

W

Hacken form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

W

W

Team News

Former Crystal Palace defender Harrison may be tempted to start Ryan Brobbel in this match after only utilising the attacking midfielder from the bench in last week's first leg.

Midfielder Leo Smith or attacker Jordan Williams are the most likely candidates to make way for the 30-year-old, with the former perhaps the more suitable option given that the hosts are chasing the tie.

Hacken, meanwhile, appear likely to travel without Armane Romeo and Johan Hammar due to groin and foot injuries respectively.

Hogmo only made two changes for his side's 4-2 victory against Brommapojkarna at the weekend, with Tomas Totland and Franklin Tebo Uchenna expected to make way to re-accommodate Valgeir Lunddal Fridriksson and Simon Sandberg for this one.

The New Saints possible starting lineup:

Roberts; Davies, Pask, Astles; Daniels, Redmond, Brobbey, Williams, Marriott; McManus, Holden

Hacken possible starting lineup:

Abrahamsson; Fridriksson, Sandberg, Hovland, Lund; Si Gustafsson, Sa Gustafsson, Rygaard; Sadiq, Trpcevski, Sana

We say: The New Saints 1-2 Hacken

New Saints are regularly found out at this level of European football, and although we expect them to keep things close in this second leg, the visitors should have too much quality for them in the end.

Hacken are flying high towards the top of their domestic table once again having recently lifted the Swedish Cup, and they will have their sights firmly set on reaching the group stage of this competition for the first time in their history.

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