Get ready for the return leg of the Champions League 1st Qualifying Round between Linfield and The New Saints. This should be an interesting match and this preview contains everything you need to know. Read on!
24-7-2 (wins/draws/losses). These are the numbers for The New Saints when playing away games on grass, which is not the surface they have on their own home stadium (which has artifical turf). Their goal statistics from those 33 matches are 77-19 (scored/conceded).
This promises to be an engrossing fixture with lots of spark and energy as both squads are well rested since they last ran out on the pitch. Let's get started!
Linfield form and stats
Linfield was eliminated in the 1st qualifying round last season in the Champions League. Zalgiris was too strong.The followers hope that Linfield will strike back in this game, putting things right after the 0-1 away defeat in the Champions League fixture against The New Saints.
Before that, Linfield had a Premiership home game versus Coleraine which ended with a victory 2-0.This is expected to be a close game, with Linfield perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Linfield as a small favourite), we find 6 games. Linfield has won 2 of these, drawn 1 and lost 3.
It's been an intense period of training leading up to this game for Linfield, who have participated in three training matches. Linfield have won 1 of these, drawn 1 and were beaten in 1 game.
The New Saints form and stats
Last season their Europa League adventure ended in the 2nd qualifying round.The fans enjoyed Saints's previous match versus Linfield, a Champions League win (1-0) played at home.
hometeam won
It's a day of discovery for The New Saints as they finally learn what impact all the hours of pre-season training, along with the changes in personnel, have had on their performance in an official game. It's never easy knowing what to expect based on friendly games, of which The New Saints have played three with the results W2-D0-L1 (win-draw-lost). In these games The New Saints has scored 7 goals and conceded 4 times.
Head 2 Head
Linfield and The New Saints have faced each other previously this season: The New Saints - Linfield 1-0.Linfield missing players
The New Saints missing players
| Linfield | The New Saints | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 15 | 8 | Won | W | 9 | 20 | ||
| 6 | 4 | Drew | D | 2 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 1 | Lost | L | 1 | 2 | ||
| 39 | 20 | Scored | S | 28 | 65 | ||
| 19 | 7 | Conceded | C | 11 | 23 | ||
| 88% | 85% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 64% | 62% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 88% | ||
| 44% | 31% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 67% | 68% | ||
| 16% | 15% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 44% | ||
| 12% | 15% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 25% | 32% | ||
| 44% | 38% | BTTS | BTTS | 67% | 64% | ||
| 44% | 62% | Clean Sheets | C S | 25% | 28% | ||
| 24% | 15% | Failed to Score | F T | 8% | 8% | ||
| 6.2 | 7.1 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 5.7 | 6.4 | ||
| 3.1 | 2.6 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4 | 3.2 | ||
| 1.2 | 1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.8 | 1.6 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 8.6 | 9.1 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 14.8 | 16.1 | ||
| 4.1 | 4.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 6.8 | 7.2 | ||
| 38% | 34% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 34% | 35% | ||
| 7 | 6 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 7.7 | 7 | ||
| 2.3 | 2 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3.2 | 3.2 | ||
