Progres host Gjilani at Stade Parc des Sports in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday (July 13).
While the hosts are unbeaten in five games, the visitors are winless in five outings. Progres are making their first appearance in the Europa Conference League, but have been playing in Europea since 1977-78. They boast 29 games in UEFA competitions, reaching the Europa League third qualifying round in 2018-19.
Progres qualified for the Europa Conference League after finishing second in the 2022–23 Luxembourg National Division. They released half a dozen players including winger, Ryan Klapp, at the end of the season and have enrolled seven new players, including striker Walid Jarmouni.
Gjilani, meanwhile, are hoping to make it beyond the first qualifying round of the Europa Conference League for the first time. They made their debut last season but were knocked out at this stage by Latvian side Liepaja. They participated in their first UEFA competition in 2020-21, reaching the first qualifying round of the Europa League.
Skifterat qualified for the Europa Conference League, thanks to a third-place finish in the 2022–23 Football Superleague of Kosovo. However, they ended the season on a sour note, as they failed to win their last five games. Gjilani will miss the services of winger Shend Kelmendi, who has been sidelined with injury.
Antonio Luisi and Mayron De Almeida caught the eye for Progres last season. They led the way atop the club’s scoring chart with 11 and ten goals respectively and will likely constitute the side’s attacking threat once again.
Meanwhile, Gjilani forward Mevlan Zeka was the league’s fifth top scorer with ten goals, while Brazilian Elton Cale had the most assists for the club, with five.
Progr
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