St. Gallen arrive with momentum from their away win in the previous round, but the confirmed lineup reveals five changes from their usual starters, suggesting Enrico Maassen has one eye on the domestic campaign. Sheriff Tiraspol, in turn, are a shadow of the side that once…
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Sign inFC St. Gallen and Sheriff Tiraspol meet at the kybunpark on 13 August 2026 for the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie. With a place in the play-off round at stake, the Swiss side welcome the Moldovan champions to their usual home ground looking to use a vocal St. Gallen crowd to their advantage.
Head coach Enrico Maassen faces a defensive selection headache. Centre-back Jozo Stanić is suspended after his red card in the previous round’s defeat to Benfica, while long-term absentees Cyril May, Colin Kleine-Beckel, and Stefan Ambrosius remain sidelined through injury. Tom Gaál is also a doubt, leaving Maassen to piece together a backline from limited options. The lack of continuity has been glaring: St. Gallen have conceded 18 goals in their last six competitive outings and are yet to keep a clean sheet.
For Sheriff, the squad rotation in their domestic fixture against Bălți underlined their European priorities. Key attackers Baye Siss, Rai, and Arli Perdjoni were rested entirely, with midfielders Doraso Clas and Miguel Mota only introduced from the bench. Goalkeeper Emil Timbur is set to continue between the posts, having been established as the first choice for continental matches.
Despite the defensive frailties, St. Gallen’s attack has been firing. They bounced back from their heavy aggregate loss to Benfica with a 3-2 league victory over Vaduz, showcasing the attacking verve that has become Maassen’s hallmark. The team has notched an average of 1.67 goals per game across their last six matches in all competitions, but the 18 conceded over the same period tells the story of a side that lives dangerously. That openness could again creep in against a Sheriff side that, on their day, can punish high lines with direct transitions.
Sheriff have become regulars at this stage and beyond, famously beating Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage in 2021. Under Victor Mihailov, they operate a structured 4-3-3 that relies on quick wide play and the experience of captain Rai. The first-leg line-up showed a team set up to contain and counter, and with Timbur in goal they have a reliable last line. Their attacking output has been subdued in recent weeks, which is why Mihailov made a point of resting key men against Bălți. The priority is clear, and Sheriff will arrive in Switzerland believing they can shut down St. Gallen’s makeshift defence.
The absence of stability at the back for the hosts places even greater emphasis on their forward line. Lukas Görtler orchestrates from midfield, while the pace of Vandermersch and Okoroji in the 3-5-2 system can stretch Sheriff’s back four. St. Gallen’s approach is likely to be front-footed; if they can build an early lead, the kybunpark atmosphere could become a factor. Sheriff will rely on the physicality of Ouédraogo and the ball-playing ability of Koné to absorb pressure and launch counters. Whether the Swiss side’s defensive patchwork holds under the counter-attacking threat may decide the tie.
A place in the Conference League play-off round awaits the aggregate winner, with the next round scheduled for late August. St. Gallen know that another European night in front of their home support could be the catalyst, but Maassen will need his improvised backline to find a stability that has so far eluded them.
FC ST. Gallen
FWD · 90' · 2 goals · 1 assist · 2 key passes · 2 shots (2 on target)
FWD · 66' · 2 goals · 1 key pass · 4 shots (4 on target)
1
MID · 45' · 1 goal · 1 shot (1 on target)
MID · 90' · 2 key passes
DEF · 45'
Sheriff Tiraspol
GK · 90'
FWD · 90' · 3 key passes · 1 shot
MID · 58' · 1 goal · 1 key pass · 1 shot (1 on target)
MID · 73' · 2 key passes · 3 shots (1 on target)
FWD · 32' · 1 key pass
4
3
47
20
10
16
28
9
31FC ST. Gallen
Coach: Enrico Maassen
Sheriff Tiraspol
Coach: Victor Mihailov
