Thursday 1 August
UEFA Conference League - Second Round Qualifying second legs
Vaduz (Liechtenstein) v St Patrick's Athletic, Rheinpark Stadion, 6.30pm - Pat's lead 3-1 on aggregate.
Shelbourne v FC Zurich (Switzerland), Tolka Park, 7.45pm - Zurich lead 3-0 on aggregate.
Coverage
Live scores and match reports on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app.
The state of play
After something of a disappointing campaign for Irish sides in the Conference League so far, St Patrick's Athletic produced a great performance to take a two-goal lead to Liechtenstein this evening.
Shelbourne came through one round but were very much second best against FC Zurich last week.
A 3-0 scoreline was probably kind on Shels against an opposition levels above. The Drumcondra side missed a couple of shots in the game but the rest of the fixture was very much damage limitation.
Progress tonight is extremely unlikely, pride is at stake for Damien Duff's side.
What changed for the Saints?
The win was a long time coming for Stephen Kenny.
Narrow victories over Galway United and Shamrock Rovers were all he had secured since taking over in mid-May.
Last week's performance was the most heartening thing for the Saints supporters and the hope is it could prove a turning point.
Having been eliminated from the FAI Cup and being closer to the relegation play-off than the top four, it was an amply timed result that could prove a platform.
Aidan Keena has arrived in what is an extremely exciting signing for Pat's as Kenny continues to chisel his squad together. Ruairi Keating departed on the same day.
Jake Mulraney really delivered on the night, including a spectacular free-kick, when he has not always found his top form. Kenny may be on the cusp of getting the best out of the winger and that would spell trouble for teams at home and in Europe.
Romal Palmer also looked a class above on the night.
The former Manchester City midfielder has had a low-key loan spell from Goztepe in Turkey, controlling the middle of the park and making the entire Saints side tick.
Joseph Anang is settling into life against in Dublin 8 while Axel Sjoberg is solving their previous woes at right-back.
Vaduz a different side at home?
The focus is on what St Pat's can do firstly and Kenny has all the European experience necessary on whether to protect a two-goal lead or build on it.
Vaduz certainly disappointed last week. Their goal came from slack defensive play by the Saints from a corner.
They may be more comfortable at the Rheinpark Stadion
Temperatures will be around 27 degrees although rain is forecast around kick-off time.
View from Inchicore
The Pat's boss has taken a lot of positives from the performance as well as the result.
He highlighted the attack threat of his front four while also not committing to a plan for this away leg.
"We're expecting a really really tough game against Vaduz. They obviously got to the group stages two years ago and they finished third and just missed out on promotion to the Swiss Super League last year so they will be tough opposition at home and we're getting ready to fight for the right to win this
"I think we showed a very high technical level last week. I think the players were very very comfortable in the way they played. The attacking four of Jake Mulraney, Zach Elbouzedi, Romal Palmer and Mason Melia were very creative and electric at times. In the first half hour we really caused a lot of problems so we have to continue to improve and look to cause the threat ourselves. I think that's very important.
"We have the ability to keep possession and play or we have the ability to play on the counter so we can take confidence from that but Vaduz have good players themselves and they will be ready for it and we will get a tough game."
Kenny acknowledges a run in Europe can give their season life.
"The European games are great games to play in and the players should really relish them and enjoy them.
"It's difficult to win European ties over two legs and if you win them you know they're significant for your club and their career. It's a big opportunity and one we want to take."
Shels must factor in crunch title clash
The chances of Shelbourne scoring at least three, and even a fourth, to win the tie are quite low.
Like Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday night, league commitments are much more important as the Reds take on Derry City this coming Monday in arguably the biggest game of the year.
Three points would put Duff's side closing in on a remarkable league title success.
So tonight may bring a host of changes to his side and key players rested for Monday night.
The visitors recorded a good victory last week, scoring four times against Winterthur, to make it the perfect start to their league campaign.
Irishman Armstrong Oko-Flex may be given a rare start or at least see time from the bench given the comfortable position the Swiss side find themselves in.
He was on the bench last week.
Antonio Marchesano scored twice last week but the most damaging goal came seconds into the game from Ifeanyi Matthew.
The main aim for Shels is to avoid an early concession in the knowledge that if they can somehow strike first Tolka Park will erupt.
Duff insists it's not over
Shels boss Damien Duff said: "The lads are in good spirits. I think they've finally brushed off the disappointment of last Thursday.
"There was a lot of regrets from individuals and collectively the team. They're all looking forward to the game tonight.
"Is the tie dead? No, it's absolutely not dead. We have given ourselves a mountain to climb, the manner of the goals conceded was so, so poor."
Sean Gannon (suspension) and Dean Williams (injury) miss out while Sean Boyd has a niggle and will be rested for Monday.
The winner plays....
FC Sabah of Azerbaijan caused a bit shock last week when they won 3-0 against Maccabi Haifa from Israel.
The leg was played in a neutral venue with the return in Azerbaijan this evening.
The winner of Shels vs FC Zurich will meet Vitória SC from Portugal as they are comfortably ahead of Maltese opposition.
Progress to the second round would be worth an additional €300,000 and take the total prize money to close to €1m.
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