Conference League
2026-08-13 - Shkendija vs Hibernian
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Thursday 13th August 2026 - Kick Off 7pm
Shkendija
An injury time goal may mean Shkendija are returning home with a deficit from the First Leg of this Conference League Third Qualifying Round tie, but a 2-1 scoreline is far from one that is fatal to their chances of progressing. Being back at home will give Shkendija great confidence, as will their recent European experiences in the Qualifying Rounds.
There is little margin for error in this European run, but Shkendija will note that they have won Qualifying ties four times in the last thirteen months. This is a team that have already beaten Europa FC and Bravo in the Conference League Qualifiers this season and Shkendija won both home ties in those previous Rounds.
Shkendija have won the opening couple of domestic League games this season, including beating defending Champions Vardar last time out, and the side have won 5 of the 7 fixtures played in all competitions this season. Home advantage feels important and Shkendija are looking for a sixth straight victory when hosting.
Hibernian
While the two Glasgow giants have had a decent impact in recent European campaigns, it has been a challenge for other Scottish Premiership representatives to do the same. Merely getting into the Group Stage of any of the UEFA competitions being run has been tough enough and Hibernian fans will tell you all about that having been beaten in the Play Off Round of the Conference League in each of their last two appearances in Europe.
They will feel they should have beaten Legia Warsaw last season when undone by some late drama in the Second Leg, but Hibernian need to show plenty of resilience to even make it back to the Play Off Round this time around. A late goal has given Hibernian something to defend, but this is a tough away test for them, especially as the team were beaten 2-0 at Malisheva in the Second Qualifying Round First Leg.
Hibernian opened the domestic season with a harsh defeat at home to Motherwell, but they have recovered to beat Shkendija and Rangers by the same 2-1 scoreline since then. The side have won each of the last 3 away Scottish Premiership games, but that loss at Malisheva in the last Round of this competition is hard to dismiss.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting between these clubs that will be hosted by Shkendija.
Prediction
There was a lack of quality in the first half last week when these two teams met in the First Leg at Easter Road, but Hibernian were the deserving winners in the second half.
David Gray will be a little frustrated that a bigger lead was not earned, but Hibernian showed how resilient they can be when upsetting Rangers at Ibrox last Sunday.
They will need to show that again even if they are not playing Shkendija in their normal home.
Shkendija have shown in the last couple of Rounds that they are a different prospect when playing in North Macedonia and they will have taken a bit of confidence from the First Leg. Despite not being at their best, Shkendija were able to breach the Hibernian defence and they will certainly believe they can do that again here.
Keeping the Scottish Premiership team out at the other end could be challenging and the expectation is that these teams pick up from where they left off in the First Leg and a more convincing attacking game can be produced from the outset.
The Pick :
Shkendija 2-1 Hibernian
