'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Magpies welcome Derry to Europa Point Stadium for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League first-round qualification tie on Thursday. The home side have not been in action since falling to a 2-0 defeat away to Mons Calpe in their final game of the Gibraltar Football League last season.
Ethan Llambias and Wladimir Francis scored second-half goals after their hosts were reduced to 10 men to help their side claim maximum points.
Derry City, meanwhile, fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Sligo Rovers in the Irish Premier Division. They took the lead through Paul McMullan's 54th-minute strike. Ellis Chapman drew the game level from the spot in the 62nd minute before scoring the match-winner in the 89th minute.
The Candystripes booked their spot in the Conference League qualifiers courtesy of their runners-up finish in the Irish Premier Division last season. Magpies are here due to their third-place finish in the Gibraltar Football League.
The winner of this tie will face Copenhagen in the next round of the qualifiers while the loser will be eliminated from Europe.
Magpies vs Derry Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
- Four of Derry's last five games have produced three goals or more.
- Four of Magpies' last five games have seen one side fail to find the back of the net.
- Derry's loss to Sligo Rovers ended their six-game unbeaten run (four wins).
- Three of Magpies' historical four games in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers have witnessed goals at both ends and also produced three goals or more.
- Four of Derry's last six qualification games in European competition have been decided by a one-goal margin.
Magpies vs Derry Prediction
Magpies are competing in the Conference League for the third time in their history but they have never advanced beyond the first qualifying round. They did not lose their respective home games in any of the previous two ties but were eliminated by an Irish side (Dundalk) at this stage last term.
Derry are the favorites in this tie and will want to impose their authority on the game early on.
We are backing the visitors to claim a narrow win with goals at both ends.
Prediction: Magpies 1-2 Derry City
Magpies vs Derry Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Derry City to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 4 - Derry City to score over 1.5 goals
