While all European football leagues are still in the middle of summer holidays, the Europa League season 2019/20 has already started operations. The first 14 teams fight in the preliminary round for a place in the first qualifying round. One of the highlights of this pre-qualification is the duel between Saint Joseph’s Football Club in Gibraltar and FC Prishtina from Kosovo. Last Thursday, both teams met at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium for the first leg. Although Prishtina was clearly superior with 17: 3 shots, it was only 1: 1 in the end.
On Tuesday evening, the return leg now rises in the Victoria Stadium of Gibraltar. With the good result from the first leg Saint Joseph’s could emerge now for the first time as the winner of a European Cup round. But before the return match St Joseph vs.. Prishtina promised the odds of bookmakers little good for the home side. Although the club from Kosovo at home had not come out over a 1-1 draw against the SJFC, Prishtina goes into the match as the clear favorite. The betting base also expects the blue-white and sets in the Europa League match St Josephs vs.. Prishtina their tip on “Victory Prishtina”.
St. Joseph’s:
Saint Joseph’s Football Club plays its games in the Gibraltar Eurobet Division. Since the 2014/15 season, the highest league in Gibraltar men’s football is also part of UEFA. The league consists of ten teams and all teams play in the same stadium. Saint Joseph’s finished the 2018/19 season in third place. As the Europa FC runner-up and at the same time won the cup, in the preseason reached the third place ranking for participation in the European Cup.
The SJFC celebrated its most successful year in the 1995/96 season. At that time the club won the championship and the cup victory. While in the club’s history so far had been only for this one championship, Saint Joseph’s could win the Gibraltar Football Cup already nine times and is thus in their own country, the second most successful Cup club behind the Lincoln Red Imps FC. In the 2017/18 season, the club from Gibraltar participated for the first time in the Europa League.
In the first qualifying round they met the Cypriot club AEL Limassol. After a 0: 4 in the first leg at Victoria Stadium, there was even a 0: 6 in the second leg away. Somewhat scarcer it was in the season 2018/19. Then met St Joseph’s in the pre-qualification on the B36 Torshavn from the Faroe Islands. The first leg in Gibraltar ended 1-1. After the regular game time of the second leg, it was also 1: 1. So had to decide at the end of the penalty shootout, which Torshavn won 3-1.
Now the team of coach Raul Procopio is hoping for a place in the next round this year. In the first leg the hosts from Kosovo had taken the lead in the 28th minute with a penalty. But only four minutes later, Juanfri equalized for St Joseph’s. In the end, the guests saved despite a goal-shot ratio of 3:17 the one point. In the starting lineup was with Juanma Gonzalez Perez also a new signing. From league opponent Lincoln Sykes Garro and Leon Clinton came back to St Joseph’s. Both are not yet eligible to play. According to the forecast of the bookmakers, St. Joseph’s is at a disadvantage compared to Prishtina.
Prishtina:
The FC Prishtina is with 17 championships the most successful club of Kosovo. The Kosovocup could win Prishtina five times and is also the record winner. While the FCP 2016 and 2018 Cup Winners, was the last championship title from the season 2012/13. Meanwhile, the KF Feronikeli in the Kosovar IPKO Superleague with three championships in the last five years, the record champion has slightly outnumbered. Also in the season 2018/19 the title went to Feronikeli. Prishtina finished runner-up, five points behind. The first leg against the club from Gibraltar was the seventh European Cup game for FC Prishtina. In the 2017/18 season Prishtina had failed in the first qualifying round clear (0-5 and 0-1) at IFK Norrkoping.
As in this year, the blue-whites were hit in the season 2018/19 in the pre-qualification to a club from Gibraltar. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Europa FC, the Kosovars clearly won the second leg at home 5-0. In the first qualifying round Prishtina then failed to Fola Esch from Luxembourg. Since no goals had been scored after a return match, the penalty shoot-out had to serve, which Esch could win 5: 4.
Prior to the season, Prishtina have strengthened with players like Shillova Uka and Egzon Krasniqi, both of whom were against Saint Josephs in the starting eleven. The new additions Ahmet Januzi and Tun Bardhoku are still waiting for their play permit. Striker Alban Shillova, who sustained an injury in the first leg, will not be back in time. Coach Mirel Josa is likely to substitute Boshnjaku in the starting eleven.
