Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints (TNS) put up a valiant fight against Italian giants Fiorentina in their European battle on Thursday night. The Welsh side, who are the first Cymru Premier team to qualify for the group stage of a European competition, faced Fiorentina in their opening Europa Conference League match. Despite the vast difference in squad values, with TNS’ squad estimated at €3 million compared to Fiorentina’s €300 million, TNS managed to hold off their opponents for 65 minutes in Florence.
The match was a true David vs Goliath encounter, with TNS impressively keeping the score at 0-0 until Fiorentina broke the deadlock with a goal from Yacine Adli. The Welsh side then conceded a second goal by Moise Kean just four minutes later, resulting in a final score of 2-0 in favour of Fiorentina. Despite the defeat, TNS showed great determination and resilience against a top European team.
TNS, who had a remarkable record in the Welsh Premier League last season with 30 wins out of 32 matches, will face Panathinaikos, Djurgarden, Astana, Shamrock Rovers, and Celje in their upcoming Europa Conference League fixtures. Their schedule includes matches at home and away, with the next game against Astana on Thursday, October 24, followed by clashes against Shamrock Rovers, Djurgarden, Panathinaikos, and Celje in the coming weeks.
The Welsh side’s historic journey in European competition has garnered attention and praise, showcasing their talent and determination on the continental stage. Despite the defeat against Fiorentina, TNS have proven themselves as worthy competitors in the Europa Conference League and will aim to make their mark in the remaining group fixtures.