Derry City are in Denmark for this evenings Europa League First Qualifying Round First leg.
The Candystrips are up against FC Midtylland at the MCH Arena in Herning, which is about three hours from the Danish capital Copenhagen.
Derry’s opposition famously had a 2-1 first leg victory over Manchester United in 2016 and they have former Tottenham and Real Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart in their squad.
It’s a first dip in European football for Derry since 2014.
Manager Kenny Shiels has a squad of 15 players for the tie as Barry McNamee and Conor McDermott are injured and recent signings Eoin Toal, Daren Cole and Jamie McIntyre can’t play until the transfer window opens on July 1st.
Sports Journalist with the Derry Journal Kevin McLaughlin has been setting the scene in Denmark….
Three League of Ireland clubs play in the competition this evening with Cork City in Estonia against Levadia Tallian and Shamrock Rovers are in Iceland where they’ll face Starnan.
Irish League sides Coleraine, Ballymena Utd and Crusaders are also in action in the first qualifying round with two sides playing in Norway
Coleraine take on FK Haugesund while Ballymena are back in Europe for the first time in thirteen years when they take on Odds Ballklibb
Coleriane are without keeper Chris Johns who’s sitting an exam and defender Lyndon Kane is out with a broken metatarsal.
Crusaders are at home in their first leg of the qualifier against FK Liepaja from Latvia.
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