Dudelange & Racing Exit Europe as Differdange & UNA Strassen Prepare for Second Round

On Thursday 17 July 2025, Racing FC Union Luxembourg and F91 Dudelange played the second legs of the first qualifying round of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Following a 0-2 defeat in the first leg, F91 Dudelange hosted Andorra’s vice-champion Atlètic Club d’Escaldes at Stade Jos Nosbaum in front of 804 spectators.

The hosts created the first dangerous opportunity in the third minute, when Dinho fired a shot from around ten metres out following a pass from the right edge of the penalty area, but goalkeeper Jure Marinovich made the save.

Dudelange newcomer Agostinho had several chances. He initially tested the Escaldes goalkeeper with a shot from medium range, which was dealt with comfortably. In the 27th minute, he won a duel with a defender following a long ball down the right flank, but after entering the penalty area, he opted to pass into the centre rather than shoot - with no teammates in position to receive the ball.

Escaldes opened the scoring in the 34th minute, when a cross from Domi Berlanga found David Segura in the penalty area, who headed past Dudelange goalkeeper Eldin Latik.

Dudelange responded before the break through Agostinho, whose shot from medium range took a slight deflection off the goalkeeper before dipping into the net. The score remained 1-1 at half-time.
Shortly after the break, the hosts had a chance to take the lead: Adrien Pianelli delivered a cross from the right wing into the centre of the penalty area, where Evan Rotundo met it with a header that struck the post and went out of play.

Rotundo had a second headed opportunity in the 71st minute, this time converting a cross from captain Mehdi Kirch to put the Luxembourg side in front.

The 2-1 lead for Dudelange lasted only two minutes before the visitors responded. A quick attack down the right wing allowed Emanoel to break through and enter the penalty area at an angle, placing his shot past the Dudelange goalkeeper to equalise.

Despite efforts to mount pressure in the closing stages, the hosts conceded again in the 89th minute when David Valero broke free and converted a one-on-one opportunity, making it 3-2 in favour of the visitors. Dudelange pushed forward but were unable to alter the scoreline before the final whistle.As a result, last season’s BGL Ligue bronze medallists saw their European campaign come to an early end, losing the tie to Atlètic Club d’Escaldes with an aggregate score of 2-5.

In a post-match comment to Chronicle.lu, Dudelange head coach Mika Almeida Pinto cited the team’s lack of cohesion following major squad changes as the main reason for the defeat: “We have experience in Conference League all the time, every year, but we changed a lot of players this season. We had 50% go out and come in, and then we had four or five weeks to create a new group. And when we watch this game, this game and the last week, we liked how we played.” He added: “I think it’s good for the future because we have a good group, we have a good relationship between us, and then I think we can make good games in the future.”

Agostinho, who scored Dudelange’s first goal, also shared his thoughts with Chronicle.lu: “Unfortunately, [the necessary win against Escaldes] didn’t happen. The team must keep the same mindset and focus on winning the next game. That’s all we have now.”

Starting lineups:

F91 Dudelange: Eldin Latik (GK), Adrien Pianelli, Isaque Gavioli, Ivan Englaro, Kino Delorge, Charles Morren, Tudor Neamtiu, Mehdi Kirch (c), Evan Rotundo, Dicho, Agostinho.

Atlètic Club d’Escaldes: Jure Marinovich (GK), Davis Andrade, Alvaro Alvarez Fernandez, Carlos Inglada, Alvaro Roncal, Yeray Carpio, Pablo Molina, Domi Berlanga, David Segura,  Gemelson, Rodrigo Piloto.

That same evening, Racing played their second match in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League. As in the first leg, Yannik Kakoko’s team lost narrowly 0-1 to Georgia’s FC Dila Gori, with the aggregate score ending 3-1 in favour of the opponents.

Two other Luxembourg clubs will compete in the second qualifying round of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League. National champions FC Differdange 03 will face Welsh champions The New Saints (TNS) away on Wednesday 23 July 2025, while vice-champions UNA Strassen will play away against Dundee United of Scotland on Thursday 24 July 2025.

(Caption: Agostinho; Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu)