The New Saints vs Ferencvaros Prediction: Pride at stake for Welsh champions

The New Saints are realistically playing only for pride as they host Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie on Tuesday.

Read on for my The New Saints vs Ferencvaros prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

The Cymru Premier champions suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat when they travelled to Budapest for the first leg last week but will be hoping to turn in an improved effort in the home match.

Their European adventure is set to continue whatever the result as even if they lose this tie, TNS will drop down to the Europa League and face the losers of the Champions League qualifier between Apoel Nicosia and Moldovan champions Petrocub.

Football Odds

Team News

The New Saints are still not able to call upon defender Ryan Astles, who has been sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

Manager Craig Harrison has been extremely consistent with his team selection during their Champions League qualification campaign, but midfielder Rory Holden has a chance to break into the team for the second leg.

Ferencvaros' star striker Barnabas Varga is still unavailable after the Hungary striker sustained a major facial injury at Euro 2024 when playing against Germany.

Manager Dejan Stankovic could opt to rotate his squad with his team holding such a big lead in the tie.

The New Saints vs Ferencvaros Odds

Ferencvaros are strong favourites to beat TNS for a second time and are priced at 4/11 to win the match, with The New Saints available at 11/2 for a home win and the draw on offer at 4/1.

Over 2.5 goals in the match is priced at 1/2 with under 2.5 at 6/4 and it's 8/11 that both teams score in the game with 1/1 available for at least one side to fail to find the net.

Ferencvaros & over 2.5 goals @ 5/6

The New Saints dominated in the Cymru Premier last season, dropping only four points all season when winning 30 and drawing two of their 32 games, scoring 117 goals and conceding only 18.

They also showed up well when tackling a different test in the Scottish Challenge Cup, reaching the final where they lost 2-1 to Airdrieonians.

There's a huge step up in class between their usual fixtures and taking on Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, though, and that was clearly demonstrated in the first leg as the home side won 5-0 in Budapest after racing into a 3-0 half-time lead to effectively settle the tie at the first attempt.

TNS will be hoping to keep the scoreline more respectable at home - although the game is being played over the border in Oswestry, England - and they won their home leg in the previous round 3-0 against Decic Tuzi of Montenegro.

Ferencvaros are a much stronger side than that, however, and while the Adama Traore who scored a hat-trick for them in the first leg is not the Premier League player of the same name, the Malian forward is a prolific goalscorer.

Expect the Hungarian side to win the second leg too, scoring a few goals along the way.

First-half correct score - Ferencvaros to lead 2-0 @ 5/1

Ferencvaros burst into action in the first game of the Champions League qualifying campaign, scoring three goals in the first 24 minutes against the New Saints.

While a repeat of that is not so likely on the road, the price for the visitors to build a handy 2-0 lead in the first half at Park Hall is attractive.

Ferencvaros won 12 of their 16 away games in their league last season, so should have few difficulties making their class count away from their home stadium.

Offers

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