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Shamrock Rovers and Celje will trade tackles in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League third-round qualification tie on Thursday. The visitors hold a one-goal advantage in the tie, having claimed a 1-0 home win in the first leg in Slovenia last week.
Luka Menalo's 34th-minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Shamrock followed up their continental defeat with a 1-1 draw at home to Drogheda in the Irish Premier Division on Sunday. They took the lead through Darragh Burns' sixth-minute goal while Douglas James-Taylor drew the game level in the 74th minute.
Celje, meanwhile, claimed a 4-2 home win over Radomlje in the Slovenian Prva Liga. They were two goals up at the break courtesy of goals from Ivan Brnic nd Alijosa Matko. Damjan Vuklisevic and Armandas Kucys added second-half goals to secure the victory.
The Yellow and Blues will turn their focus to protecting their one-goal lead on the continent. The winner of this tie will face the loser of the UEFA Champions League clash between Jagiellonia Białystok and Bodo/Glimt, while the loser drops to the UEFA Conference League.
Shamrock Rovers vs Celje Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Last week's first-leg clash was the maiden meeting between the two sides.
- Fourteen of Celje's last 17 games across competitions have produced over 2.5 goals.
- Shamrock have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last nine games in UEFA competitions.
- Shamrock are winless in their last nine away games in UEFA club competitions (eight losses).
- There has been exactly one goal scored in the first half in four of Shamrock's last five competitive games.
Shamrock Rovers vs Celje Prediction
Shamrock Rovers have struggled over the last few weeks, having won just one of their last six games across competitions. Their games at home have typically been low-scoring, with five of the last six producing less than three goals.
Celje's games, by contrast, tend to have the goals flowing although this trend was bucked in the first leg by their opponents' defensive resoluteness.
There is still all to play for in this tie and both sides will fancy their chances of advancing. We are backing the spoils to be shared in a low-scoring stalemate.
Prediction: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Celje
Shamrock Rovers vs Celje Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Draw
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 1.5 goals
