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Preview: Shels face Ajax as Bohs host FC Midtjylland

· Kian Lacchia · 2026-08-06 · nguồn gốc

UEFA Conference League, third qualifying round, first leg Ajax v Shelbourne, Johan Cruyff Arena, 7pm Bohemians v FC Midtjylland, Tallaght Stadium, 7.45pm WATCH Ajax v Shelbourne will be live on Premier Sports 1. Bohemians v FC Midtjylland can be streamed online via the club's website. WEATHER Shels fans at the Johan Cruyff Arena should expect pleasant conditions, with sunny intervals throughout the day. Temperatures will remain comfortable at around 20 degrees with a moderate breeze. Bohs fans heading southside will be met with mostly dry conditions with spells of sunshine. A few light showers are possible. Top temperatures of around 20 degrees in light to moderate winds. SHELS FACING OFF AGAINST SLEEPING GIANTS Shelbourne are no strangers to big European ties. In the 1960s it was Sporting CP and Atletico Madrid, Rangers in the 90s, a famous 0-0 draw in Lansdowne Road vs Deportivo La Coruna in 2004, and Qarabag just over a year ago. But the upcoming double-header against Ajax is up there with any fixture in Shelbourne’s history. Shels saw off Estonian side Nomme Kalju 6-4 on aggregate in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League qualifier, despite suffering a 2-1 loss in the second leg away from home. Last Sunday, Shelbourne made three changes to the squad and lost 1-0 at Waterford. While an injury crisis is starting to calm down within the club, strikers John Martin and Mipo Odubeko remain on the comeback trail. Although they have 36 league titles to their name, Ajax have struggled in recent years domestically. In a league where two teams have historically been dominant, PSV have a strong grip on the title, having won the last three in succession. That being said, they are still a very glamorous club. The four-time European champions made the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2019, and many would still consider them one of the biggest clubs in the world. Ajax’s academy remains one of the best around and De Godenzonen have recently brought in some great experience such as the likes of Julian Brandt from Borussia Dortmund, and Champions League-winning goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen. Ter Stegen, when asked what he is most excited about after signing, said: "I think to bring the club, which is such a historical club with a lot of power not only in the Netherlands but on football’s biggest stage, back to where it belongs. I am very much looking forward to getting it done." Ajax’s previous Conference League tie was plain sailing, winning 8-2 on aggregate against Serbian club Vojvodina Novi Sad, with Davy Klaasen getting two across both legs and Oscar Gloukh scoring a hat-trick in the second leg. Shelbourne will also have to look out for 21-year-old Belgian Mika Godts, who scored 17 goals and got 12 assists in the league last season. Usually in these games the fact that the other team are in pre-season gives the League of Ireland club some confidence, but with the Eredivisie starting this weekend, Ajax will be close to full match fitness. There is also a huge footballing appetite in the city, with an attendance close to the 56,000 capacity likely. Speaking after the second leg against Nomme Kalju, new Reds manager John Russell looked ahead to the big one in Amsterdam. "It’s an amazing game to look forward to now for the fans travelling home and away," he said. "I was blown away last week in Tolka by the display and the energy and the feel around the place. "We have got a massive game to look forward to. The fans are going to enjoy travelling over, and yeah, bring it on." BOHS UP AGAINST IT IN TALLAGHT Bohemians’ European run continued with a dramatic penalty shootout win away to Ballkani of Kosovo. With the aggregate score locked at 4-4 after a 3-2 scoreline after extra-time, Jordan Flores netted the winning penalty, sparking wild celebrations from the players and fans. The tie had a special meaning as the first leg was the last European game held at the current Dalymount Park ground, with Ross Tierney scoring a 90th minute screamer to head to Kosovo 2-1 up. Bohs boss Alan Reynolds called it a highlight of his career, and the win could certainly end up being the highlight of the season for Bohs. After themselves and St Pat's failed to capitalise on dropped points by Shamrock Rovers at the weekend, the Hoops stayed in full control of the table with a seven-point buffer to second place. There is a couple of big differences in this round for Bohs, one being the fact that the home leg will be held in Tallaght Stadium. "It's a massive difference not playing in your home ground and the crowd that we have there," Reynolds said. "I'm sure plenty of them will travel across and get behind us. It's a good pitch and all that so should be no problem but obviously I would prefer that the game was in Dalymount." The other difference is the standard of opposition. While not quite on the level of Ajax, FC Midtjylland have European pedigree of their own. The Danish club have been to the Europa League league phase for the past two seasons and have managed to get some big wins against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Celtic. Having originally been in Europa League qualifiers, the Danish club have dropped to the Conference League after a loss to Besiktas. "There's a lot of strengths with them and they have internationals and all that and I'm not sure if people are giving us a chance," Reynolds added. "We have to be brave, that's for sure. We have to be good in possession because they will press high and get after us. They're a really good team but we've got to go there with conviction. "I'm not sure anyone is giving us a chance so we'll have a game plan, a way of playing. It might be slightly different to the domestic league. We'll have to be patient at times in how we go after the ball and press but we've also got to be good in possession. So that's what we asked from the players."