Champions League Preview: Dundalk -v- Legia Warsaw

DUNDALK FC

History beckons for Stephen Kenny’s trail-blazing Lilywhites ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League play-off tie with Polish champions Legia Warsaw at what they are calling the Dublin Arena due to UEFA’s rules around sponsorship.

 

Dundalk have progressed to the play-off round, a stage which no other Irish side have managed to reach since the inception of the qualifying rounds for the modern European Cup, in incredible fashion.

 

The 11-times Champions of Ireland defeated Iceland’s FH Hafnarfjordur in the second-round in dramatic circumstances, eventually prevailing on the away-goal rule, 3-3 on aggregate, before they humiliated Belarussians, and Champions League group-stage regulars, BATE Borisov in Tallaght Stadium a fortnight ago with an inspired display of courage, passion and ruthlessness.

 

Striker David McMillan has been the main man for Kenny’s side during their incredible adventure deep into the qualification rounds of Europe’s premier club competition. The Dublin-based architect has scored five goals to date, including a superb brace in the Tallaght demolition, and should the Lilywhite number 9 find form once more tomorrow evening, Dundalk may have another famous European night to remember.

 

Brian Gartland, Dundalk’s steadying defensive influence, returns to the fold for tomorrow night having missed the last six games through a wrist injury sustained in the first-leg of the game versus FH. Paddy Barrett has performed admirably in his absence and Kenny will have a decision to make regarding who, of the two, will partner Andy Boyle at the heart of the Lilywhites back-four.



 

Decisions are yet to be made regarding the fitness and availability of Dundalk’s playmakers-in-chief. Ronan Finn and Patrick McEleney have sat out the Lilywhites’ last two SSE Airtricity League Premier Division encounters with a view to being fit for tomorrow night’s tussle with the Polish giants – arguably the biggest game in the club’s 115-year existence.

 

Ahead of the hugely anticipated qualifier, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny and ‘skipper Stephen O’Donnell appeared before the assembled media at the ‘Dublin Arena’ and Extratime.ie reporter John McDermott was present to hear their pre-match thoughts.

 

“Preparations have gone quite well. Brian Gartland has been declared fit to play with a cast. We're waiting on Ronan Finn and Patrick McEleney. They've got groin issues. We're hopeful that both can be ready,” Kenny said.



 

Stephen O’Donnell tended to focus his comments around the quality of the opposition and he insisted that it is going to be an incredibly tough task for his team to progress, but ultimately he believes that it is possible.

 

“They're a quality team and they've a few internationals. They're a good unit and a strong, tall team. They're a well-oiled unit,” O’Donnell added.

 

“The BATE experiences have been hugely important. All the lads involved tomorrow have been involved in big European nights. Everyone is coming into this on a high. Football wise we are going into this full of confidence.”

 

 

LEGIA WARSAW

Former Albanian international, Besnik Hasi, will take his Legia Warsaw team to Dublin tomorrow night seeking to progress to the group phase of the Champions League for the first time in 21-years.

The 2015/16 Polish double winners advanced to the play-off round with less than convincing performances, although it can be acknowledged that progression is all that counts. Legia defeated Bosnian outfit, Zrinjski Mostar before knocking out AS Trencín of Slovakia, 1-0 on aggregate, in the second and third qualifying rounds respectively.

 

Unlike Dundalk though, Legia haven’t been enjoying a very fruitful domestic season to date. ‘Wojskowi’ sit ninth in Poland’s top-flight having won only one of their opening six matches while they have won once at home in all competitions this season.

 

However, Legia boast a wealth of international experience with two of their mainstays having played a central role in Poland’s run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. Michal Pazdan and Tomasz Jodlowiec were part of Adam Nawalka’s international side that exited this summer’s championships to eventual champions Portugal.

 

Nemanja Nikolic has scored all of Legia’s four qualifying goals and the striker featured for Hungary at the recent Euros, while midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe is a former Belgian international.

 

Legia have undoubtedly gotten a vastly more experienced squad than their Irish opposition, however, with manager Besnik Hasi highlighting the difficulty of the task ahead, it would be imprudent to think that the Polish are taking Dundalk lightly.

 

Hasi said: "All of Ireland is behind them and I can feel that in every corner. It's dangerous to think we are better than them. We have to show that on the pitch. Two games are going to decide if we'll see a Polish team in the Champions League.

 

“We are prepared and in the last two games we showed we are only thinking about this game. We'll show that tomorrow."

 

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (GER)

 

 

MATCH FACTS

Dundalk are aiming to become the first ever Irish side to compete in the Champions League proper, while Legia are aiming to be the first Polish side to reach the Champions League since Widzew Lodz in 1996-97.

 

This will be Dundalk's first ever match against Polish opposition. However, the Lilywhites have played in the European Cup on seven different occasions, most recently in the 1991-92 season, where they were eliminated by Honved Budapest.

 

Legia Warsaw have lost just one of their last 14 Champions League qualifiers (W6 D7). However, this defeat was a game awarded to Celtic in 2014 (3-0) - the Polish side had beaten them 2-0 in the match but had fielded an ineligible player.

 

 

BETTING

Dundalk FC 31/10; Draw 12/5; Legia Warsaw 10/11.

 

PREDICTION

Dundalk FC 1-1 Legia Warsaw.

 

 

DUNDALK FC

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Ronan Finn & Patrick McEleney.

Suspended: None.

 

LEGIA WARSAW

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.