The New Saints begin their Europa League campaign on Thursday as they face MŠK Žilina of the Slovakian Fortuna Liga.
Ahead of the tie at Park Hall, manager Scott Ruscoe told TNS’ club website, “I’m really pleased with the tie being at home.
“We will now prepare for the opposition – who must be respected – and have certainly got a good pedigree in European competition.”
“We are looking forward to the test,” Ruscoe added.
Opponents MŠK Žilina, who finished second in the Fortuna Liga last season, are currently fourth in the league, having picked up six points from their opening four games, but the Slovakian side boast a strong pedigree in European competition.
Pavol Stano’s side have reached the group stages in both the Champions League and Europa League in the last twelve years, facing the likes of Chelsea, Ajax and Marseille.
In comparison, we take a look at The New Saints’ recent European campaigns ahead of their clash with the Slovakian runners-up.
2010-2011
The New Saints progressed in a Champions League tie for the first time in the club’s history with a 4-1 aggregate win over Bohemians in July 2010.
Despite succumbing to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, Craig Jones, Matty Williams and Chris Sharp struck in the opening 20 minutes, before Williams scored the fourth in the second half to set up a third round qualifying round tie with Belgian giants Anderlecht.
Facing an Anderlecht side full of internationals like Cheikhou Kouyate and Mbark Boussoufa, the Saints fought valiantly but were outclassed, losing 6-1 on aggregate.
Embed from Getty ImagesHaving been knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers, The New Saints were drawn to face Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia in a Europa League play-off, but three goals in the final ten minutes of the first leg from Aquaro, Nelson and Delev left the Oswestry-based side with a mountain to climb.
Despite goals from Matty Williams and Steve Evans in the second leg at the Racecourse Ground, the Saints bowed out of Europe, losing 5-2 on aggregate.
2011-2012
The 2011-2012 season saw The New Saints progress in a European tie once again, this time through the Europa League first qualifying round.
The Saints faced Northern Irish side Cliftonville and took the lead in the home leg through Alex Darlington’s individual effort, before Barry Johnston equalised for the Reds.
In the away leg, Phil Baker’s early goal for TNS proved to be the difference between the two sides, earning the Saints a place in the second qualifying round and a tie against Danish side FC Midtjylland.
In a high-scoring contest, the current Superliga champions progressed, winning 8-3 on aggregate.
2012-2013
The New Saints’ Champions League campaign in 2012 was brought to an abrupt end by Helsingborgs IF of the Swedish Allsvenskan.
After a 0-0 draw in the home leg, the Saints were defeated 3-0 out in Sweden with goals from Walid Atta, Thomas Sørum and Alvaro.
Manager Craig Harrison said after being knocked out, “We knew it was going to be tough in the second leg but we weren’t good enough in the first half an hour of the game.”
“It would have been interesting if it had been 0-0 after 30 minutes,” he added.
2013-2014
It was a similar story for The New Saints a year later, as they were knocked out of the Champions League in the second qualifying round by Legia Warsaw.
In the first leg at the Racecourse Ground, Ryan Fraughan gave the Saints a shock lead, before the Polish side showed their quality in the second half.
Goals from Michal Kucharczyk, Marek Saganowski and Jakub Kosecki secured a 3-1 lead for Wojskowi going into the second leg.
The Saints once again put in a resolute, battling display, but succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Legia Warsaw, losing 4-1 on aggregate.
2014-2015
Having qualified for the Champions League qualifiers by winning the Cymru Premier title by a margin of 14 points, The New Saints were drawn to face ŠK Slovan Bratislava of the Slovakian Premier League.
The Saints kept themselves in the tie in the first leg, going down 1-0 to Eric Cikos’ goal.
Craig Harrison’s side again competed in the second leg, this time held at Rhyl, before Marko Milinkovic’s second-half double secured a 3-0 win on aggregate for Belasí.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn a post-match interview with BBC Radio Shropshire, manager Craig Harrison said, “First half we were definitely on top and at this level you need to score goals when you are on top. It would have changed things if we’d have scored.
“I hate being beaten no matter what but we’re talking about the biggest club competition in the world, you’re talking about the best teams in the world, so you’ve got to be positive,” he added.
2015-2016
The New Saints progressed in a Champions League tie for the second time in the club’s history as they faced Faroese side B36 Tórshavn in the first qualifying round.
Despite going 1-0 down in the opening seven minutes of the first leg, The New Saints striker Scott Quigley, who has since won the National League Golden Boot with Barrow, netted a prompt equaliser.
The Saints then took control of proceedings and after numerous chances, Michael Wilde, now at Connah’s Quay Nomads, scored a last-gasp winner.
Embed from Getty ImagesWilde was again influential in the second leg, scoring a hatrick in the opening 47 minutes to secure The New Saints’ place in the second qualifying round.
Matty Williams added a fourth for the Saints, before B36 Tórshavn netted a consolation through Lukas Cieslewicz, brother of The New Saints winger Adrian Cieslewicz.
Having defeated B36 Tórshavn 6-2 on aggregate, the Saints earned a second qualifying round tie with Videoton, now known as Fehérvár FC.
Despite holding their own in the first leg at Park Hall, The New Saints went down to a 1-0 defeat to the Hungarian champions, as Adam Gyurcso found the net in the 77th minute.
The Saints fought heroically away from home in the second leg, with Matty Williams’ goal forcing the tie into extra time.
Adam Gyurcso, the goal-scorer of the first-leg, netted in extra time to harshly knock out The New Saints.
2016-2017
The 2016-2017 campaign in Europe saw The New Saints drawn to face Tre Penne of San Marino, a tie in which the Saints showed their quality.
Scott Quigley scored the opener in the first leg, volleying home Simon Spender’s cross, only for Stefano Fraternali to equalise three minutes later.
In a game where the Saints had numerous chances, it was Jamie Mullan who would score the winner to give his side the advantage going into the away leg.
Quigley was again on the scoresheet in Serravalle, scoring the first in a comfortable 3-0 win for the Saints.
Aeron Edwards and Greg Draper struck in the second half to secure an emphatic 5-1 win on aggregate.
Their reward was a tie against APOEL FC, the most decorated side in Cyprus, who have reached the group stages of the competition numerous times.
In the first leg, the Saints impressively kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw, giving themselves every chance of causing an upset in Cyprus.
Despite a valiant effort, APOEL asserted themselves in the second leg, with internationals Nektarios Alexandrou and Pieros Sotiriou on the scoresheet, along with De Vincenti’s late penalty.
Manager Craig Harrison said in a post-match interview, “I am immensely proud.
“The second goal made it a huge task and took the wind out of our sails.
”We had our chances, but that is me being ultra critical,” he added.
2017-2018
The New Saints reached the second qualifying round of the Champions League once again in the 2017-2018 season, having been drawn to face Europa FC in the opening round.
Under the interim management of Scott Ruscoe, the Saints fell to a 2-1 defeat in the home leg, with goals from Alex Quillo and Kike either side of an effort of pure quality from striker Scott Quigley.
In Gibraltar, all three goalscorers of the first leg were in the spotlight, with both Alex Quillo and Kike being sent off as Europa FC were reduced to nine men.
With the Saints leading 2-1 on the night, Scott Quigley netted the winner to set up a second qualifying round tie with Croatian side Rijeka.
In similar vein to ties with Anderlecht, FC Midtjylland and Legia Warsaw, the Saints faced a side of real quality, going down 7-1 on aggregate and bowing out of the Champions League.
2018-2019
The Saints’ European campaign in the 2018-2019 season began with a Champions League first qualifying round tie against Macedonian side KF Shkëndija.
In the away leg, Scott Ruscoe’s side gave themselves a mountain to climb, as Isar Emini’s opener was added to by four goals from Besart Ibraimi to secure a 5-0 lead going into the second leg.
Despite a heavy loss in the first leg, the Saints put in an impressive display at Park Hall, with first half goals from Dean Ebbe, Daniel Redmond and Ben Cabango, who has recently earned his first Wales call-up, giving Scott Ruscoe’s side hope.
Kurtis Byrne added a late fourth for the Saints, but they could not find a fifth goal to equalise the tie on aggregate.
Having been knocked out of the Champions League, the Saints faced Lincoln Red Imps in the Europa League second qualifying round, a side who two years prior had defeated Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in a shock result.
Dean Ebbe was again on the scoresheet early for the Saints, as they took the lead in the first leg, only for Joseph Chipolina to equalise for side from Gibraltar.
With just seven minutes to play, Blaine Hudson netted a late winner for the Saints to give them the advantage in the second leg.
Despite going 1-0 down in Gibraltar, the Saints kept their composure and progressed in the tie, thanks to Dean Ebbe’s late equaliser, setting up a tie with FC Midtjylland, who the Saints had faced in the 2011-2012 season.
It was a similar story for the Saints, as the Danish side were too stong, knocking out Scott Ruscoe’s side by an aggregate scoreline of 5-1.
2019-2020
In the Saints’ most recent campaign, Scott Ruscoe’s side faced KF Feronikeli of the Football Superleague of Kosovo in the Champions League first qualifying round.
In the first leg, goals from Greg Draper and Aeron Edwards had the Saints cruising, only for two late goals from Mavlan Zeka and Astrit Fazliu to put their chances of progressing in contention.
Embed from Getty ImagesScott Ruscoe told BBC Sport Wales after the game, “It’s more than a little bit disappointing because we’re two-nil up and six minutes to go.
“But there’s more to come, we’ve gone away from home before and got results and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again,” he added.
The Saints did exactly that, as a crucial goal from Dean Ebbe secured a 1-0 win in the away leg, earning Ruscoe’s men a mouth-watering tie against Danish giants Copenhagen.
Facing a side full of internationals and a club with a rich vein of history in the competition, the Saints fell to a respectable 3-0 aggregate loss, dropping into the Europa League qualifiers to face Ludogorets Razgrad.
In the Europa League third qualifying round, the Saints certainly didn’t have the luck of the draw, facing a side who have recently been in the Champions League group stages, holding Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in 2014.
The Bulgarian side showed their quality throughout the tie, knocking The New Saints out of European competition with an aggregate scoreline of 9-0.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
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