Finland’s KuPS host Georgia’s Dila Gori in the first qualifying round first leg of the Europa Conference League on Thursday. KuPS finished second in 2021 in the Finnish Veikkausliiga to punch their ticket to the Conference League qualifying rounds.
Dila Gori, on the other hand, finished third in Georgia’s Erovnuli Liga at the end of 2021. The Georgian team will hope to find some form against a beatable opponent to move into the second qualifying round and onto the group stage.
💛🖤 KuPS:n euroavaus näkyy VeikkausTV:sta!⭐ Mölymäen legendaarisen mediakuution rakenteita selostamossa koettelee @IkosJuuso.📄 Lue lisää:https://t.co/Y3SJuHcV4s#KuPS #UECLfi #Banzai pic.twitter.com/JakSLMxsdJ— Kuopion Palloseura (@KuPS1923) July 5, 2022
💛🖤 KuPS:n euroavaus näkyy VeikkausTV:sta!⭐ Mölymäen legendaarisen mediakuution rakenteita selostamossa koettelee @IkosJuuso.📄 Lue lisää:https://t.co/Y3SJuHcV4s#KuPS #UECLfi #Banzai pic.twitter.com/JakSLMxsdJ
KuPS are in the middle of their domestic campaign in Finland. The Canaries are atop the Veikkausliiga after 13 matches. Manager Simo Valakari will hope the side can translate their league form over to European competition.
Last season, Norway’s Bodoe/Glimt reached the semifinals of the Europa Conference League. KuPS will hope to emulate their Norwegian neighbour’s form from a season ago.
Dila Gori are also in the middle of their domestic campaign. Gori have played 20 domestic matches this season in the Erovnuli. They are fourth in the Georgian top flight. Dila Gori’s form has wavered in recent matches.
The Guarders go into the match winless in their last two domestic matches. In their most recent match played on June 29, Dila Gori lost lost 4-1 to Torpedo Kutaisi.
KuPS are unbeaten in their last two Veikkausliiga games. The Finnish side is in better form ahead of this fixture. The Canaries last played on Saturday, July 2, drawing 1-1 with HJK. KuPS have a brilliant goals record in the Veikkausliiga.
The Canaries have scored 20 goals and conceded just nine times. At home on the domestic front, they have scored 11 goals and conceded four times.
Dila Gori have struggled for goals on the road on the domestic front and it could translate over to the Europa Conference League. The Guarders have scored seven road goals and conceded 11 times in the Eronvuli.
Finnish forward Tim Vayrynen has scored seven goals this season in the Veikkausliiga. Latvian midfielder Janis Ikaunieks has four goals of his own.
Dila Gori have an exciting Brazilian attack in the form of Vagner Goncalves. The 26-year-old has eight goals in 17 appearances in the Georgian top flight. His pace could be difficult for KuPS’s defence to deal with.
In the end, KuPS and Dila Gori should both find the back of the net with over 2.5 goals scored. The first leg of their Europa Conference League first qualifying round tie should finish 2-2 with neither side able to get the upper hand.