Ferencvaros commence their latest Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening, as they host The New Saints in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie at Groupama Arena.
While TNS travel to Budapest on the back of beating Montenegrin minnows Decic, the Hungarian champions now enter the hunt for a precious place in this year's group stage.
Match preview
© Reuters
After cruising to their sixth straight title by a 16-point winning margin last season, Ferencvaros soon suffered a double blow that left a bitter taste to an otherwise successful season.
The day after being defeated 2-0 by league runners-up Paks in the Magyar Kupa Final, head coach Dejan Stankovic stepped down and took up the manager's role at Spartak Moscow.
New boss Pascal Jansen - previously of Dutch side AZ Alkmaar - was soon appointed, though, and is now aiming to bring more trophies to Hungary's most successful club.
Following a 1-1 draw against CSKA Sofia and a 3-1 win over NK Istra of Croatia, Jansen's squad recently wrapped up their pre-season preparations by drawing 2-2 with West Ham United in Austria.
Before getting a new domestic campaign under way early next month, Ferencvaros will return to continental competition, having made it through the Europa Conference League's group phase last term.
Fradi ultimately exited UEFA's third-tier competition to eventual winners Olympiacos, but they are now just three rounds away from dining at Europe's top table this year.
The first step on that road sees Welsh underdogs The New Saints arrive at Groupama Stadium, hoping to build on momentum gained from comfortably coming through the first qualifying round.
TNS won their opening tie against Decic 4-1 on aggregate, earning a 3-0 victory in the first leg at home before playing out a 1-1 draw in last week's return.
Having scored twice at Park Hall, Brad Young also found the net in Podgorica, as Craig Harrison's side progressed with room to spare and at the very least secured themselves a playoff place in the Conference League.
Last season, the Saints posted 92 points from a possible 96 to claim their third consecutive Welsh Premier League title, scoring 117 goals and conceding just 18.
Going unbeaten through both the regular season and their championship playoff group, they ended an incredible campaign some 33 points clear of second place.
However, a true test of the Oswestry club's credentials now awaits, as they take on opponents with genuine ambitions of going all the way through to the new-look Champions League group phase.
- W
- D
- D
Team News
Ferencvaros can call upon goalkeeper Denes Dibusz and right-back Endre Botka, both of whom played in Hungary's Euro 2024 campaign, but star striker Barnabas Varga is still sidelined after suffering a serious facial injury while in Germany.
In the absence of Varga, Serbian centre-forward Aleksandar Pesic should start up front on Tuesday evening, most likely supported by Tosin Kehinde.
Belgian midfielder Philippe Rommens and Brazilian playmaker Kady Borges both arrived during the summer transfer window, but it remains to be seen whether either is fit enough to start Fradi's first competitive game of the new season.
Meanwhile, The New Saints will rely on Brad Young to lead their attack in Budapest, after the Aston Villa youth graduate scored 29 times in 36 appearances last term and netted three more goals in the first qualifying round.
Left-back Danny Davies also found the net against Decic, having previously bagged a brace in the recent friendly with Cliftonville, so will seek to continue such goalscoring form on a much bigger stage.
Elsewhere, captain Daniel Redmond starts in central midfield and ex-Everton goalkeeper Connor Roberts will feature between the posts.
Ferencvaros possible starting lineup:
Dibusz; Botka, Knoester, Cisse, Ramirez; Loncar, Abu Fani, A. Toth; Traore, Pesic, Kehinde
The New Saints possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Daniels, Pask, Bodenham, Davies; Brobbel, Clark, Redmond, Smith, Williams; Young
We say: Ferencvaros 4-1 The New Saints
Although The New Saints have a few more run-outs under their belts, Ferencvaros should be able to shake off any rust in time to ensure a commanding lead ahead of next week's second leg.
With home advantage and a squad full of experienced pros at continental level, Fradi are set to all but book their place in the third qualifying round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
