Shkendija vs Shelbourne prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-10-22 16:45.
[p]Two of the rank outsiders of the UEFA Conference League, Shkëndija and Shelbourne, will have a rare genuine opportunity to earn their inaugural league phase victory when they meet in Skopje.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Shkëndija found the going tough in their UEFA main draw debut when they lost 2-0 away to Spain’s Rayo Vallecano. The defending North Macedonian champions are on an eight-game unbeaten run in domestic competition (W5, D3) but have lost four of their last five games in continental football (W1), three of which came by multiple-goal margins. They can still take some confidence from playing at their UEFA home venue in Skopje, winning six of their last nine continental games there (D1, L2). [/p]
[p]Shelbourne have had an immensely busy period, stringing together three successive league wins in the space of seven days. Their four consecutive domestic league victories overall have almost certainly locked in another shot at qualifying for European football next season, and they’ll soon be able to devote their full attention to the Conference League. A Shelbourne side that head coach Joey O’Brien recently described as “buzzing”’ earned a creditable 0-0 draw with Swedish club Häcken as underdogs on matchday one and showed they can travel with wins in their last two UEFA away trips, notably being outsiders on both of those occasions as well!  [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Shkëndija have never played against a team from the Republic of Ireland, while Shelbourne’s only experience with a North Macedonian side came back in 2000/01 (W1, D1). [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Shkëndija’s last five UEFA wins were all by a one-goal margin. [/p]
[p]Shkëndija’s last six games in all competitions produced under 2.5 total goals. [/p]
[p]Seven of Shelbourne’s last eight UEFA losses were by a 2+ goal margin. [/p]
[p]Five of Shelbourne’s last seven matches saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Fabrice Tamba remains one of Shkëndija’s most potent threats with goals in four different games since late August, all of which came after half-time. Shelbourne defender Patrick Barrett was Flashscore’s Player of the Match against Häcken with an impressive 15 clearances and will be fresh after serving a two-game domestic ban. [/p]
[p]Shkëndija have no known major absences. Shelbourne are without Conor Kearns and Sam Bone. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Neither team regularly scores nor concedes in large numbers at continental level, so we expect under 2.5 total goals here.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]