Sheriff Tiraspol and FC Utrecht will continue their respective quests for Europa League football when they go head-to-head in the first leg of their qualifying tie at the Nisporeni Stadium on Thursday.

The home side claimed an emphatic win in the opening phase to set up a meeting against the visitors, who were given a free pass into the second round due to their UEFA club coefficient.

Match preview

Sheriff have enjoyed a near-perfect season so far with 13 points from a possible 15 in league action to lead the way in the Super Liga, while also making light work of Prishtina on the continental front courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate victory.

The Wasps' only defeat across all competitions so far came in a largely inconsequential second-leg clash against the aforementioned Prishtina off the back of an emphatic 4-0 first-leg triumph.

Having seen their three-year streak of featuring in a major UEFA competition come to an end last time out, Victor Mihailov's men are keen to make an immediate return to European participation 

A two-legged tie against Utrecht poses a stern assignment for Sheriff, but the Moldovan outfit should have every reason to be optimistic, having not lost in front of their fans since August 2024.

Flying out of the blocks has been crucial to Sheriff's promising start to the campaign, as they have opened the scoring in six of their seven matches, and Thursday's hosts could do with breaking the deadlock once again to help calm the nerves in what is sure to be a tense affair.

Utrecht needed to turn on the style in the final knockings of the 2024-25 season to fend off competition from AZ Alkmaar and give themselves a shot at qualifying for the Europa League.

Ron Jans's men lost just one of their final eight matches, picking up 15 points from a possible 24 to secure fourth place in the standings off the back of a rough start to 2025.

In preparation for their upcoming continental involvement, De Domstedelingen played five pre-season friendlies in 18 days, losing three, including the most recent two, so they will head into Thursday's game not as confident as they would have liked.

Utrecht have not taken part in a Europa League tournament since the 2011 edition, which also remains their last foray into Europe, and the Eredivisie outfit will feel due a return to the continental scene.

Ahead of next week's return leg, Thursday's visitors now set out to steal a march on the hosts in their first competitive outing away from home since May's season-finale against Fortuna Sittard.

Sheriff Tiraspol Europa League form:

Sheriff Tiraspol form (all competitions):

FC Utrecht friendly form:

Team News

Long-term absentees Rickson Van Hees and Rafik el Arguioui remain out of contention for Utrecht due to respective knee injuries.

Zidane Iqbal has not featured for the home side since early April, and the midfielder is still a significant way off returning to action.

Can Bozdogan, Miliano Jonathans and Siebe Horemans are back available after spells on the sidelines, although it remains to be seen if they will be deemed fit enough to start here.

Cyrille Bayala has scored four goals in his last five matches for Tiraspol, including a hat-trick in the opening round of Europa League qualifiers, making him one to keep an eye on.

Alongside Bayala, Atila Guilherme Sales Freira was also given a breather last time out, but both men are expected to come straight back into the hosts' lineup.

Sheriff Tiraspol possible starting lineup:

Dyulgerov; Rai, Boakye, Magassouba; Serobyan, Ademo, Soumah, Bayala, Atila; Gjoni, Diarra

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:

Barkas; Finnsson, Van der Hoorn, El Karouani, Horemans; Zechiel, Viergever; Engwanda, Jensen, Blake; Min

We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 1-2 FC Utrecht

Sheriff Tiraspol are in better form than their visitors heading into Thursday's game, but Utrecht boast more quality all over the pitch.

While we expect the hosts to give a good account of themselves, we can see them just about falling short when all is said and done.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Adepoju Marvellous

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