'They’re a very dangerous team': Stephen Bradley wary of Shamrock Rovers' latest Euro challenge

After beating Floriana of Malta and losing marginally to Ararat from Armenia in their Champions League rounds, FK Egnatia visit Tallaght in the first leg of the Europa League third round (8pm).

FK Egnatia will be the best team Shamrock Rovers have encountered in Europe so far this season, according to their manager Stephen Bradley. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy.

FK Egnatia will be the best team Shamrock Rovers have encountered in Europe so far this season, according to their manager Stephen Bradley.

After beating Floriana of Malta and losing marginally to Ararat from Armenia in their Champions League rounds, the Albanians visit Tallaght in the first leg of the Europa League third round (8pm).

Egnatia highlighted their calibre by pushing Slovenian champions Celje to a penalty shoot-out in last week’s tie but travel to Ireland with injury doubts over Ivorian striker Soumaila Bakayoko and their ex-Sunderland centre-back Arben Xhemajli, who is reportedly on the move to Malaysia for €100,000.

Rovers will have their new €75,000 recruit from Sligo, Will Fitzgerald, available for the first time in their European campaign that will entail another tie, irrespective of how they fare over the next eight days.

Should they overcome this hurdle, Norwegian outfit Lillestrom await in the next round but the major byproduct is the guarantee of Conference League group involvement, stretching up to December.

If Egnatia knock them out of the Europa League, then a final stab at a fourth group phase in five years is on offer against the loser of KuPS (Finland) and Universitatea Craiova (Romania) in the Conference playoff.

“I think out of the three teams we’ve played so far in Europe, these are the best,” Hoops boss Bradley said about Egnatia.

“They play a very similar system to us, with an attacking team that have scored a lot of goals so far (six in their first champions league qualifying round and five over the two legs against Celje in the second round). They’re a very dangerous team.”

Some assistance from a former Hoops goalkeeper has been welcome.

“I’ve spoken to Leon Pohls who’s playing over there,” added Bradley about the stopper who currently plays in the Albanian league for Vllaznia.

“What Leon said is exactly what we’ve seen in that Egnatia are a very good team.” Rovers rotated their team for last Friday’s stalemate at Drogheda, which maintained their lead at the summit of the league table, but key operators, midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna and striker John McGovern, remain sidelined with injury.