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Steffen Schmidt - July 12, 2023
Hegelmann vs Shkupi
UEFA Conference League Qualification
Date: 13 July 2023, Thursday
Kick-off at 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET
Venue: S. Dariaus ir S. Gireno stadionas (Kaunas).
Hegelmann will make their European debut on Thursday afternoon when they host Shkupi in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round in Kaunas.
The young Lithuanian team (founded in 2009) came fourth last year in A Lyga in what was their just second appearance in the top flight.
They are also currently fourth in the 2023 A Lyga campaign after 21 rounds. Head coach Andrius Skerla can be satisfied with the form his men have shown of late as the hosts will enter this tie on the back of three consecutive wins in the domestic league.
Hegelmann have several very interesting players in their ranks. Croatian international Filip Dangubic is their deadliest weapon with 12 goals this season.
We also have to mention the likes of Cesinha, Hugo Figueiredo, Samuel Odeyobo, and Patrick Popescu, each of whom are very much capable of making the difference at this level.
Despite the lack of European experience, we can easily see Hegelmann causing Shkupi problems in this matchup.
The visitors had numerous chances to qualify for the group stage of either Europa League or Conference League last year but they disappointed their fans with eliminations at the hands of Shamrock Rovers (2-5 in the third qualifying round of Europa League) and Ballkani (1-3 in the Conference League playoffs).
The two losses to Kosovo’s Ballkani were especially painful for Shkupi who then also had a disappointing run in the domestic league, finishing the season ten points below champions Struga.
Hegelmann possess enough quality to make this an interesting matchup and we very much like the home win pick at the attractive 4.75 odds here.
Shkupi have allowed at least two goals in four of the last five European games on the road while Hegelmann will go into this on the back of three straight A Lyga wins, having bagged six goals in the process. You can alternatively take the hosts to score two or more goals at the 3.75 odds.
