| Champions League qualifying began last week, and both teams in the tie couldn't agree on a winner in the first leg across the Channel. Since the turn of the millennium, the Welsh Premier League club The New Saints has made numerous attempts to qualify for a European competition for a long time in vain. In the summer of 2024, the hurdle was finally broken. For the first time in the club's history, they advanced to the main round, specifically the UEFA Conference League. Although they lost five of their six matches, the participation alone was a milestone. Above all, guest team gained valuable international experience that could benefit them in this season's qualifiers. However, the first leg of the first round against Shkendija Tetovo was sobering. Despite a slight advantage in possession and more control of the game in the classic, the Welsh champions remained goalless in front of their home crowd. A 0-0 result, which can be considered a small success from the visitors point of view. After all, Shkendija was able to slow down the offensive power of the British and put themselves in a position for the return match with a respectable result. |
