Gzira United host Radnicki Nis on Thursday

Gzira United host FK Radnicki Nis of Serbia in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round at the Centenary Stadium on Thursday, kick-off at 19:00.

It will definitely be no easy task for Darren Abdilla’s side after eliminating Atletic Escaldes of Andorra with a 1-0 win after extra-time away from home last Thursday following the 1-1 draw at the Centenary Stadium the previous week. A clash with Wolfsberger of Austria awaits the winner in the third qualfying round.

Fudbalski klub Radnički, commonly known as Radnički Niš, are based in Niš, Serbia. They were founded in 1923 and were one of the most stable clubs in the former Yugoslavia. The team spent a total of 29 seasons in the Yugoslav First League, achieved two 3rd-place finishes in 1980 and 1981, and a runner-up spot in the Serbian Super Liga in 2018/19.

They took part in the UEFA Cup in seasons 1980/81, 1981/82 and 1983/84, their best achievement being reacing the semi-finals in 1981/82 when they lost to Hamburg with a 3-6 aggregate score. They returned to European football in 2018, eliminating Gzira with a 5-0 aggregate score from the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League although they were later eliminated by Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 2019/20, they were eliminated from the first qualifying round by Flora Tallinn of Estonia.

Last season, they placed fourth behind Red Star, Partizan and Cukaricki. The Serbian Super Liga 2022/23 has just kicked-off with Radnicki losing 4-0 to Red Star Belgrade away from home, holding Partizan Belgrade in a 3-3 draw at home.

The second leg between Gzira United and Radnicki Nis will be played on Thursday 28 at the Stadion Cair in Nis.