Shelbourne take on the visitors Linfield in round of 1/8-finals of UEFA Champions League qualification. The match will be played on Wednesday, June 9th at Tolka Park (Dublin).
Shelbourne made the most of their opportunity last season. The “Reds” have a long and proud history, having won over a dozen league titles, but had also spent several recent years in the second division. That’s what made their breakthrough last season all the more sensational—though it helped that title favorites Shamrock Rovers were fully consumed by their unusually deep European campaign. In the end, Shelbourne edged them out by just two points to claim their first league title in nearly two decades. However, the architect of that success, Damien Duff (the former Chelsea and Newcastle winger), was recently dismissed before the start of the Champions League qualifiers. The decision came amid a sharp downturn in form, with the team falling to mid-table and winning fewer than half of their matches this season. Their recent run includes only two wins from their last seven league fixtures, raising real doubts about their momentum going into Europe.
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Linfield belong to a rare group of historic giants with more than 50 domestic league titles to their name. While they had a brief dry spell in the Northern Irish Premiership, they still managed to collect several cup trophies during that period. In 2024/2025, they finally reclaimed the league title after a three-year absence—and did so in dominant fashion. They finished a staggering 18 points ahead of second-place Larne, with 83 points to 65, despite losing their final two matches after having already secured the title. The domestic season wrapped up as early as April, giving them ample time to regroup and prepare. Linfield played two friendlies ahead of this Champions League qualifier, maintaining sharpness and match rhythm. Their experience and cohesion make them a reliable side in these early European rounds.
These teams met in the Setanta Sports Cup back in 2005 and 2006. Linfield won both encounters and also played to a 0-0 draw in the same competition. This looks like a fairly even pairing overall. But home advantage should play a key role here. We recommend backing the Republic-based side to win on home turf.
Prediction for the match: Shelbourne to win.
