TNS big outsiders facing huge step up in class

Second qualifying round first leg
From 6pm Tuesday

The New Saints survived a scare to reach the second qualifying round of the Champions League but the huge outsiders are likely to be outclassed by Croatian champions Rijeka.

The clubs who enter at this stage represent a significant step up in quality and that is reflected in the match odds with few competitive betting heats as the gulf in quality extends wide.

TNS saw off Europa in round one but they did so having lost the home leg 2-1 and the tie turned on two red cards dished out to the hosts in Gibraltar which aided the cause of the Welsh champions.

Rijeka have lost top goalscorer Franko Andrijasevic to Gent but they still have plenty of goal threats to concern TNS in players such as Alexander Gorgon and Mario Gavranovic, who is the only member of the squad to have played in the Champions League proper.