The New Saints’ reward for their memorable 1-0 win against Kosovan outfit KF Feronikelo is a glamour tie with Danish giants FC Copenhagen.
Scott Ruscoe’s side will host the first leg at Park Hall on July 23, before travelling to Denmark for the second leg on July 30.
Copenhagen’s coefficient ranking meant that they were placed into the second qualifying round, with the Saints entering at the first round stage.
Key Info
Copenhagen are the reigning Superliga champions, winning their third title in four years after finishing top of the regular season and Championship round table.
Nicknamed Byens Hold (The City’s Team) or Løverne (The Lions), the club was founded in 1992 after the merger of Kjøbenhavns Boldklub and Boldklubben 1903.
As well as winning their domestic league 13 times, they also have a proud record in the Danish Cup, winning the competition eight times – most recently in 2017.
They are managed by former player Ståle Solbakken, who is in his second spell in charge of the club. After five years at the helm, he departed in 2011, before returning in 2013.
Stadium
Copenhagen play their home games at the 38,065 capacity Telia Parken, which is also the home of the Danish national team.
After opening in 1992, it underwent renovations in 2001 and 2009, and has a record attendance of 60,000.
The stadium has a retractable roof, as well as a three star Michelin restaurant on the eighth floor.
It was confirmed in 2014 that the ground will host three group stage games and a round of 16 match at the 2020 European Championships.
European Competition
The club nicknamed Byens Hold (The City’s Team) have appeared in the group stages of the Champions League on four occasions.
Their most recent appearance came in 2016/17 season, when they finished third in Group G; which included Leicester City, Porto and Club Brugge.
Their one and only appearance in the knockout rounds of the competition came in the 2010/11 season when, after finishing second in Group D, they met Chelsea in the Round of 16.
A 2-0 defeat at home in the first leg would prove costly, as despite a creditable 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge in the return leg, they exited the tournament.
Ones to watch
Robert Skov
The Danish striker finished as runaway leader at the top of the Superliga goalscoring charts last season, netting 29 goals in the league.
Skov, 23, joined Copenhagen in 2018 after a six-year spell with Silkeborg IF, and found the net 30 times in his 52 appearances to date.
His performances for the club resulted in a call-up to the Danish national team, and he made his debut in last month’s EURO 2020 qualifier against Georgia.
Dame N’Doye
Former Hull and Sunderland player N’Doye has proved to be a valuable addition since joining the club in 2018.
Scoring 24 goals in his first 34 games for Copenhagen, the Senegalese striker finished last season has the joint-second highest goalscorer in the league, seven behind Skov.
With 26 international appearances to his name, the 34-year-old will provide a significant threat to the Saints’ defence, who will need to be on their mettle in both legs.
Pieros Sotiriou
A proven goalscorer, the Cypriot international joined the club in 2017 after a four-year stint with APOEL which saw him score 45 goals in 73 appearances.
While he hasn’t been able to replicate that sort of strike rate with Copenhagen, his 16 goals in 51 games is still a respectable record, and he has proved to be a good foil to the likes of Skov and N’Doye.
Another seasoned international, the 26-year-old has played for his country 33 times since making his debut in 2012, netting eight goals.
(Featured image: Pathfinder77)
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