Saint Patrick’s Athletic (Pats) will host Dundalk in Richmond Park, on the 1st of November. This will be the second meeting between the two sides this season, with the previous meeting ending up level at the full-time whistle.
Due to recent positive Covid tests for some of the teams in the League of Ireland (LOI) the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has delayed fixtures for two weeks. This have given teams the time to adjust their teams during this two week break.
This Covid scare has congested Pats last four games together which will be played over a 12-day period. Pats go into this meeting unbeaten in the last four matches after two victories and two draws.
Pats sit in fifth in the Premier Division with 14 games played and having a total of 19 points. Pats are currently two points off fourth place, which is the last spot for Europa League qualification
Dundalk are also playing in the Europa League and they have a busy schedule of games ahead of the Pats match. Dundalk have fielded weaker teams in the last few games as players are missing through injury or are just unavailable to play.
Dundalk face a huge task on Thursday as they travel to the Emirates to take on English giants Arsenal in the Europa League. Just like Pats, Dundalk’s league form is identical to that of their opponents as they have won two matches and drawn two matches going into this game.
Dundalk sit in third in the Premier Division with 15 games played and having a total of 25 points. This game is huge for both clubs because there are only four European spots up for grabs and the winner of this game could secure one of the last spots available for European qualification.
Pats have been finding it hard to score goals this season as they lack that killer instinct and a real scoring threat. On the defensive side of the ball Pats have only conceded 11 goals, which is third best behind only Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians.
Dundalk on the other hand have been scoring goals for fun having scored 24 goals in 15 games, which is second to Shamrock Rovers. It’s sure to be a titanic tussle with two greats of Irish soccer going up against one another in the race for European qualification.
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