Linfield vs Shelbourne Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Qualifying | First Qualifying Round
by Alex Lawes ·
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Something of a rivalry is taking place in the first qualifying round of this season’s UEFA Champions League with Northern Ireland’s Linfield taking on Shelbourne, of Ireland.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – Cannot be streamed
Linfield vs Shelbourne prediction
David Healy’s Linfield returned to the top of NIFL Premiership, ahead of Larne, last season, and they are looking to overturn a deficit in this second-leg at Windsor Park. Shelbourne are in the middle of their League of Ireland campaign, reeling from the surprise resignation of Damien Duff, with former Bolton Wanderers defender Joey O’Brien now in charge of the Irish champions.
In the first-leg of this UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie, Shelbourne edged past their Northern Irish opposition by a goal to nil at Tolka Park, thanks to a 58th minute winner scored by Mipo Odubeko.
It may seem a bizarre prediction to imagine this game bursting into chaos here, but the chances are that it does, with it being so delicately poised and Linfield having home advantage, so both teams scoring may well actually be a good value bet.
Linfield vs Shelbourne tip: Both teams to score
