TIRANA, Aug. 13 /ATA/ – Albanian clubs Egnatia and Dinamo take to the field on Thursday for their second-leg matches in the third qualifying round of European competitions, aiming to overturn first-leg deficits and keep their continental campaigns alive.
Albanian champions Egnatia host Shamrock Rovers at 9 p.m., looking to overturn a 3-1 defeat in Ireland. The Rrogozhinë-based side face a difficult task, but optimism remains high ahead of the decisive clash.
At the same time, Dinamo face Latvia’s Auda at Elbasan Arena in the second leg of their Conference League third qualifying-round tie. The Tirana side must overturn a narrow 1-0 defeat suffered in Latvia.
Dinamo coach Ilir Daja stressed the importance of home advantage and called for concentration throughout the 90 minutes.
“We are better adapted to playing on our home ground than our opponents. We have to make the most of that advantage throughout the 90 minutes and, hopefully, aim to go through,” Daja said.
Dinamo midfielder Eridon Qardaku said overturning the 1-0 deficit would be difficult but achievable, calling for greater intensity and aggression in challenges.
For Dinamo, elimination would bring their European campaign to an end in the third qualifying round of the Conference League. Egnatia, meanwhile, would drop into the Conference League playoff round if they are eliminated from the Europa League.
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