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Partizani Tirana host Marsaxlokk at the Elbasan Arena in Albania on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League clash in the first qualifying round.
After falling in the playoff round of the competition last year, Tirana will launch a fresh bid to reach the group stages. They had also come up short in their attempts to qualify for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Courtesy of their runners-up finish in the league campaign last season, the Red Bulls have reached the qualifiers yet again and hope to make it to the Conference League finals at the fourth bite of the cherry.
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Standing in their way are Malta's Marsaxlokk, who will play in Europe for the first time since the 2008-09 season. That's because the Southseasiders came fourth in the 2023-24 Maltese Premier League season with 43 points from 26 games.
They will be playing in the qualifiers for the fourth time in their history, and in all three previous appearances at this stage of the qualifiers, the Maltese outfit failed to progress into the second round.
Partizani vs Marsaxlokk Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the sides in history
- The Southseasiders have never progressed beyond the first round of European qualifiers before in three attempts: 2004-05 UEFA Cup, 2007-08 UEFA Champions League and 2008-09 UEFA Cup
- In six qualifying games, the Maltese outfit lost on every occasion, conceding 20 goals and scoring just once: vs Sarajevo in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League qualifiers
- Partizani Tirana are unbeaten in their last four home games in the European qualifiers, drawing and winning twice each
- Partizani Tirana have faced a side from Malta just once before: Birkirkara in the first qualifying round of the 2004-05 UEFA Cup, winning 5-4 on aggregate
Partizani vs Marsaxlokk Prediction
Partizani have more experience, while their recent showings in these qualifiers have been promising too. Their rivals from Malta could find these settings rather unfamiliar, having reached here after a gap of 16 years. Also playing away from home, the Southseasiders could find it difficult to break down their opponents.
Prediction: Partizani 2-1 Marsaxlokk
Partizani vs Marsaxlokk Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Partizani
Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Over 2.5
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: Yes
