UEFA Conference League: Floriana face Ballkani in Pristhina on Tuesday

UEFA
by Antoine Busuttil

Following a fine 5-3 win over Haverfordwest County AFC of Wales in the first qualifying round, Floriana face FC Ballkani of Kosovo in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri in Pristina on Tuesday, kick-off at 20:30.

Although it will be no easy game, the Greens will be all out to get a positive result in Prishtina to maintain alive hopes of reaching the third qualifying round of a UEFA competition for the second time in the history of the club.

FC Ballkani met Hamrun Spartans in the UEFA Conference League last season. In Kosovo, the game ended in a goalless draw but Ballkani scored twice in the second leg at the Tony Bezzina Stadium to qualify for the third round.

FC Ballkani, who are based in Suhareka, Kosovo, made history in 2022 by qualifying for the group stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League; becoming the first ever side from Kosovo to reach the group stages of a UEFA club competition.

They won the Kosovar Superliga three times in the last four years, the Cup once and the Super Cup twice, winning the treble in 2024. 

This is their fourth participation in European football. In 2022, they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Zalgiris Vilnius but then they eliminated La Fiorita, KI Klaksvik and Shkupi to reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League and last year, they were eliminated by Ludogorets Razgrad in the UEFA Champions League but then eliminated Larne, Lincoln Red Imps and BATE Borisov in the UEFA Europa Conference League to make it to the group stage as well. Last year, they were eliminated by Larne on penalties in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.

Ballkani placed second in the Superliga of Kosovo last season, twelve points behind champions Drita.

The second leg will be played at the Centenary Stadium on July 31.

Should Floriana eliminate FC Ballkani, in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, they would face the winner of the clash between St Joseph’s FC of Gibraltar and Shamrock Rovers FC of Ireland, first leg at home.