Barry Town United will commence their second successive UEFA Europa League campaign on Thursday evening against Faroese opposition in NSÍ Runavík.
It could have been a different story for Barry after their scintillating start to the 2019/20 Cymru Premier season, though, the seven-time champions will settle for second-tier European football once again.
Gavin Chesterfield’s men have been drawn to face a Faroe Islands Premier League outfit for the first time in their history, with the winners taking on Scottish side Aberdeen in the first round proper.
Barry will travel abroad in order to go up against the relatively unknown NSÍ Runavík in the preliminary round. Let us guide you through the necessary information regarding the Faroese giants.
KEY INFO
Founded in 1957, NSÍ are the most respected sports team that reside from the Faroese village of Runavík, and have lifted a number of prestigious domestic honours.
With colours of yellow and black, forcing Barry to wear their away strip, NSÍ celebrated half a century as an established club with their first and only league title in 2007.
A decade later, they claimed their third Faroe Islands Cup crown, bringing to an end their 15-year drought in that specific competition.
The entirety of NSÍ’s squad is of Faroese descent with many international caps between them, while they are managed by Swede Glenn Ståhl – who was appointed at the frontend of the current season.
At present, they sit fourth in the ongoing Faroe Islands Premier League campaign, with the Nordic region’s season running from May to November, meaning the squad’s fitness will be exquisite heading into the one-legged tie.
STADIUM
A number of Europe’s most picturesque stadiums are situated in the Faroe Islands. NSÍ’s 2,000 capacity venue is no different, but unfortunately it is currently not approved by UEFA for international play.
Instead, NSÍ play their home matches in Europe at the Svangaskarð stadium – which formed history in the early 1990s when becoming the first UEFA recognised stadium in the Faroe Islands.
Svangaskarð has hosted the Faroe Islands national team on many occasions as well as various Champions League Qualifying fixtures.
It is surrounded by greenery and the small village of Toftir, while the sea is situated a stone’s throw away with balls often being kicked offshore and swept away by the choppy waters.
Embed from Getty ImagesPERFORMANCES IN EUROPE
Having first appeared in European competition back in 2003, NSÍ have become accustomed to life in the Europa League.
After historically making their Champions League debuts twelve years ago, NSÍ have since qualified for the Europa League in every season bar a two-year absence during a difficult period for the club.
They have on four occasions faced British opposition in Europe, with Fulham and Hibernian as well as Northern Ireland’s Linfield and Ballymena United having made the journey to the Faroe Islands.
NSÍ remain in search of their maiden European triumph, having endured 14 consecutive defeats in continental tournaments, most recently against Ballymena 12 months ago.
MANAGER
Sweden’s Glenn Ståhl was appointed manager of NSÍ in May ahead of the new Faroese campaign, following a two-year period away from management.
During his professional career as a footballer, Ståhl played as a defender for the likes of Östers IF and Husqvarna in his country of birth, before moving on to pastures new at Norwegian outfit Hamarkameratene.
He returned to Husqvarna and finished his career at the club, before being offered a role in management after completing his coaches badges in 2007.
The 48-year-old holds a UEFA Pro Licence and often prefers to utilise a 3-5-2 formation with two overlapping wing-backs.
Embed from Getty ImagesONES TO WATCH
Born in Runavík, Klæmint Olsen would make his debut for his local club at 17 years of age and remains a persistent threat in attack over a decade in advance.
He has become a legend in his hometown and been awarded the Faroe Islands Premier League golden boot on five occasions in the last decade, as well as scoring 197 goals for the club.
Olsen scored 26 goals in his previous campaign and has already found the back of the net seven times this season.
The Faroese frontman netted against Spain in the qualifiers for the European Championship last year in Torshavn, despite his team suffering an emphatic 4-1 defeat.
Aside from Olsen, another attacking prospect in Petur Knudsen could prove damaging going forward, while shot-stopper Tórður Thomsen has been in fantastic form thus far this season.
22-year-old Knudsen was part of the cup winning squad in his teens and has this season scored on eight occasions and bagged five assists.
Meanwhile, Thomsen has kept eight clean sheets in 15 appearances thus far this season, and enters his fifth Europa League Qualifying campaign for both NSÍ and B36 Torshavn.
(Featured Image: James Rendall)
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