UNA Strassen vs KuPS Prediction 11.07.2024 | Conference League

• Competition: UEFA Europa Conference League Qualifiers - First Round 1st leg
• Date: Thursday, 11th, July 2024
• Kickoff: 18:00 UTC +1 / 19.00 CEST
• Venue: Stade Municipal de la Ville de Differdange (Differdange)

Kuopion Palloseura from Finland heads to Complexe Sportif Jean Wirtz to take on Luxembourg side UNA Strassen in Thursday's Conference League qualifying clash.

UNA Strassen have arrived here thanks to fortunate circumstances, having finished their league campaign in an unrewarded sixth place, but they received an invitation for their first-ever continental appearance solely because the higher-placed duo Swift Hesperange and Jeunesse Esch were denied UEFA licenses. Additionally, it should not be forgotten that the Reds, based in Strassen, had a noteworthy campaign in the Luxembourg Cup, reaching the club’s first-ever semi-finals, though they were unfortunately knocked out 0-2 by Hesperange.

Last year's domestic campaign left a bitter taste in the mouths of the KuPS side, as they lost the Veikkausliiga title race to HJK Helsinki solely on goal difference, thus missing out on the chance to qualify for Europe's elite competition. However, the current 2024 season sees the Yellow-Black determined to rectify last term’s mistakes, as they have maintained their lead over the title-chasing pack by recording a routine 3-1 victory over Gnistan in their most recent outing.

UNA Stresse vs KuPS Betting Tips: KUPS TO WIN

Over a month without any action since their domestic campaign concluded, UNA Strassen will struggle to achieve a favorable outcome in the first leg, especially considering their lack of experience on the continental stage. While the Luxembourg side faces several challenges of their own, KuPS's campaign is in full swing as they enter this European contest on the back of consecutive victories against Ekenas and Gnistan, with the former triumph earning them a spot in the Suomen Cup last-four while the latter helped them maintain their lead over the chasing pack for the title.

Furthermore, over the past three seasons, the Yellow-blacks have effortlessly sailed through the initial rounds of the Conference League qualifiers, and they will be hoping to comfortably navigate through the opening challenge posed by the immature UNA Strassen this time around. Although they have the advantage of playing at home, it's hard to see the Reds causing trouble for the well-drilled KuPS side, who are also in splendid form, having won eight out of their last 11 matches across all competitions.