Shamrock Rovers will host Santa Clara in the second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff round on Thursday, August 28, with kick-off set for 21:00 CET. After a surprising result in Portugal, the Irish champions return home with momentum on their side and a spot in the group stage within reach.
Match Preview
Few expected Shamrock Rovers to leave Portugal with a victory, but the Irish side delivered a bold and disciplined performance in the first leg. Despite falling behind early, they equalized before halftime and took the lead in the 66th minute. Two VAR interventions prevented further goals, but Rovers held firm to secure a crucial 2-1 win.
The win extended Shamrock’s excellent run of form. They’ve now won three straight matches and are unbeaten in their last four. In the third qualifying round, they comfortably dispatched Balkani 4-1, and they’ve also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Irish Cup. Domestically, Rovers remain top of the Irish Premier Division after 27 rounds, underlining their consistency and confidence.
Santa Clara, on the other hand, are struggling. They’ve made a poor start to the new Portuguese league season, suffering back-to-back defeats (0-1 and 0-3). In European play, they only narrowly scraped past Larne in the previous round and have now gone four matches without a win, losing three and drawing one. Their form and morale appear shaky at a time when they cannot afford mistakes.
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Shamrock Rovers vs Santa Clara Head-to-Head (Key Match Stats)
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First Leg Result: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Santa Clara
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Shamrock Rovers: 3 wins and 1 draw in their last 4 matches
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Santa Clara: Winless in 4 (3 losses, 1 draw)
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This is only the second-ever meeting between the two clubs
Shamrock Rovers vs Santa Clara Lineups (Probable)
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Roberto Lopes, Honohan, Cleary, Grace, Nugent; Mandroiu, Watts, Healy; Grant, Gaffney
Santa Clara: Gabriel Batista; Luis Rocha, Diogo Kalila, Sidney Lima, Paulo Victor; MT, Serginho, Adriano; Vinicius Lopes, Joao Costa, Gabriel Silva
Shamrock Rovers vs Santa Clara Prediction and Betting Tip
Shamrock Rovers are riding high after their first-leg win and have the home advantage heading into the decisive leg. Santa Clara, meanwhile, are clearly out of rhythm, both domestically and in Europe. While they have no choice but to chase the game, Shamrock’s form, structure, and confidence make them difficult to beat at home.
Best Bet: Shamrock Rovers Double Chance (Win or Draw)
Odds: Solid value around 1.65–1.70, depending on the bookmaker.
With momentum and crowd support, the Irish side are well-positioned to finish the job and secure a place in the Conference League group stage.
