St. Gallen must overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, and their high-scoring home form gives them hope. Nordsjaelland's defence has been formidable with four clean sheets in five, but both sides have rotated heavily, with six regulars missing for the visitors. Early goals co…
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Sign inFC St. Gallen welcome FC Nordsjaelland to their kybunpark home on Thursday for the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff tie, aiming to overturn a slender 1-0 deficit from the first meeting in Denmark. The Swiss Cup holders must find a way past a Nordsjaelland side that has been ruthless in qualifying, having already dispatched GAIS and Valur by heavy aggregate margins earlier this summer.
Nicklas Rojkjaer’s curling finish from the edge of the box in the opening stages at Right to Dream Park proved the difference on 20 August. Nordsjaelland’s counter-attacking move caught St. Gallen cold, and after the early setback Enrico Maaßen’s side grew into the contest. The Swiss visitors dominated possession in the second half but could not translate it into clear-cut chances, with the home defence holding firm on the artificial turf in Farum. That narrow margin leaves the tie finely poised.
Both coaches named unchanged-looking lineups in the first leg and no fresh injury concerns have been reported. St. Gallen set up in a 3-5-2 system, with captain Lukas Görtler operating as the attacking midfielder behind Andi Baldé and Fabian Hunziker. Nordsjaelland lined up in a 3-4-3, Rojkjaer leading the line flanked by wide forwards, while a disciplined midfield unit shielded the back three. Head coach Jens Olsen is expected to stick with the same shape that has served him well through the qualifiers. For St. Gallen, the main selection question is whether Maaßen introduces more attacking thrust from the start, perhaps by pushing Görtler closer to the front two or handing a start to the lively Jérémy Frokaj.
St. Gallen return to a kybunpark that has witnessed previous European nights, including their run to the Conference League group stage two seasons ago. That experience may prove crucial. Neutrals can expect an open contest: St. Gallen need at least one goal to stay alive, while Nordsjaelland have shown on their travels in earlier rounds that they carry a threat on the counter. The Danish side eliminated Swedish outfit GAIS 6-1 on aggregate and swept past Valur 7-0, so their confidence will not be dented by the tight first-leg scoreline.
The Swiss captain will be central to unpicking a visiting midfield that delivered what many observers rated as a standout display in the first leg. Görtler’s ability to find pockets of space and thread passes into the forwards could be the route to breaking down Olsen’s well-drilled unit. If Nordsjaelland can again disrupt St. Gallen’s build-up and spring quick transitions, Rojkjaer’s pace will ask questions of the home backline. The duel between Görtler and the Danish side’s central midfield pivot is likely to shape the outcome.
St. Gallen know that a single goal can throw the tie wide open, while Nordsjaelland will aim to protect a lead that puts a Conference League group-stage place within touching distance. The victors over 180 minutes will join the league phase later this autumn.
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