Hamrun Spartans will be bidding to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they take Lincoln Red Imps in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round contest on Tuesday night.
The hosts will enter the clash with a narrow advantage, with Ethan Britto netting the only goal of the match when the two teams locked horns in Malta last week.
Match preview
Both teams had a player sent off in their first leg last week, with Elionay given a red card for Hamrun Spartans in the 10th minute, before Enrique Gomez was sent off for the Lincoln Red Imps late in the first period.
A 38th-minute effort from Britto proved to be the difference between the two teams, and Javi Munoz's side therefore have a narrow lead to take into the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round fixture.
The Red Imps are 28-time Gibraltar National League champions, again lifting the trophy last season, and they will be aiming to progress past the first qualifying round of the Champions League for the first time since 2021-22, with the team falling at this stage of the competition last term.
Lincoln Red Imps have never qualified for the group stage of a Champions League, but they made the group stage of the 2021-22 Europa Conference League, losing all six of their matches to finish fourth.
The home side have now taken part in 22 Champions League fixtures, boasting a record of seven wins, three draws and 12 defeats, and they will fancy their chances of progressing to the next round due to their strong result in the away leg of the first qualifying round contest.
Hamrun Spartans have plenty to do on Tuesday, and they will be bidding to progress to the second qualifying round of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Tas-Sikkina are 10-time Maltese Premier League champions, winning each of the last two titles, finishing five points clear of second-placed Floriana at the top of last season's table.
Alessandro Zinnari's side ended their 2023-24 league campaign with a 1-1 draw against Hibernians on May 4, so the clash on Tuesday was their first fixture for more than two months.
Hamrun Spartans have scored six goals and conceded none in their last two away matches, but they were both on Maltese soil, and the visitors will have to be at their best on Tuesday evening in order to navigate their way into the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
Team News
Lincoln Red Imps will be missing Gomez through suspension on Tuesday, with the striker sent off in the first half of the clash between the two teams last time out.
As a result, Lee Casciaro is expected to come into the XI, with the 42-year-old potentially featuring alongside Victor Villacanas in a front two.
Head coach Munoz is again set to line his side up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Nano and Ibrahim Ayew expected to feature as the two wing-backs.
As for Hamrun Spartans, Brazilian midfielder Elionay is out of the contest through suspension, having received a straight red card in the 10th minute of the first leg between the two sides last week.
Tailson is expected to be the player to benefit, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle last time out.
A 4-3-3 formation should see Raphael Lopes feature as the centre-forward, while Steve Borg and Joseph Mbong are also set to continue in the starting XI on Tuesday night.
Lincoln Red Imps possible starting lineup:
N Garcia; Britto, Lopes, Sergeant; Nano, Joe, De Barr, Bent, Ayew; Villacanas, Casciaro
Hamrun Spartans possible starting lineup:
Bonello; Camenzuli, Mayron, S Borg, Corbalan; Tailson, Marcelina, Prsa; Barros, Lopes, Mbong
We say: Lincoln Red Imps 1-1 Hamrun Spartans (Lincoln Red Imps win 2-1 on aggregate)
It is a big ask for Hamrun Spartans to turn this tie around, and we have to side with Lincoln Red Imps here. It would not be a surprise to see the visitors score, but the home side should have enough to navigate their way into the next stage, as any draw is also good enough for them to progress.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
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