Shelbourne vs Kalju Prediction 23 July 2026
🔊 Shelbourne and Nõmme Kalju meet in the first leg of the Conference League second qualifying round at Tolka Park in Dublin. The Irish side want to make home advantage count before the trip to Estonia, while the visitors already have European minutes in their legs and will be looking to take something useful back from the first leg.
Head-to-Head
📊 These two sides have never met before.
Head-to-head statistics Shelbourne - Kalju
Shelbourne Team Overview
The Irish club earned their spot in the Conference League qualifiers by finishing third in last season's league. They're already in rhythm - the Irish season is in full swing, and after 24 rounds Shelbourne are still in the mix near the top of the table.
The club changed manager over the summer, with John Russell taking charge ahead of the European campaign. His start wasn't great: Shelbourne went out of the FAI Cup Round of 32, losing to Kerry from the First Division after a 2-2 draw in normal time and a 5-6 defeat on penalties. Home advantage matters, but it's worth flagging that Shelbourne have gone six Conference League qualifying matches without a win.
Match Results: Shelbourne
Nomme Kalju Team Overview
Nõmme Kalju's last official match was played in the Premium Liiga, a goalless draw away at Kuressaare (0:0). Here are the stats from that game (Nõmme Kalju vs Kuressaare):
- possession: 57% vs 43%;
- corners: 7 vs 5;
- fouls: 4 vs 8;
- yellow cards: 1 vs 1;
- shots on target: 4 vs 3.
The Estonian club started their European campaign in the first qualifying round of the Conference League and got past Linfield over two legs. After a 1-0 home win, they held on in the return fixture, drawing 2-2 in Belfast. Nõmme Kalju arrive at the second round in decent shape - they've had plenty of match time thanks to the ongoing Estonian league season and haven't lost in six games across all competitions.
That said, they rarely try to dominate against more experienced opposition, preferring a compact defensive shape and quick transitions. The key question ahead of the trip to Dublin is how they handle being away from home. In their last four away matches they haven't lost - one win and three draws - but against Shelbourne they'll need to absorb pressure from the first whistle. Scoring hasn't been a problem, though: Nõmme Kalju found the net in 10 of their last 11 matches.
Match Results: Nomme Kalju
Outcome Prediction
Trends- Nõmme Kalju cover the +1.5 handicap in 46 of their last 47 matches.
- Nõmme Kalju cover the +1.5 handicap in 6 straight matches (Conference League).
⭐ Editor's Prediction
Shelbourne have home advantage and are in a more settled competitive rhythm, but Nõmme Kalju already have a European round under their belt and come into this with some useful experience. The Irish side will push for a lead at home, while the visitors will want to keep their options open ahead of the second leg in Estonia. Given the form of both teams and the nature of qualification matches, total goals over 2.5 looks the most logical call - it's landed in six of Shelbourne's last six competitive games. Predicted score: 2-1 to the home side.
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Betting Tips: Shelbourne - Nomme Kalju
in 6 of last 7 games.
in 12 of last 13 games.in last 6 games (UEFA Europa Conference League).in last 6 games.
in 8 of last 9 home games.in last 7 games.in 10 of last 11 games.
Comparison of Teams Stats
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