FCB Magpies vs Derry City Predictions

• Derry have won four of their last five games, scoring 13 goals across that spell.
• Magpies have lost to Irish opposition in each of the last two seasons.
• Magpies won just one of their final six games last term.

Derry can claim first leg advantage

Derry begin their quest to reach the Conference League group stages on Thursday as they head to Gibraltar to face FC Bruno’s Magpies.

This is the third consecutive season the Magpies have been involved in European qualifying and they’ve so far only come up against Irish opponents, losing to the North’s Crusaders in 2022/23 and Derry’s league rivals Dundalk last year.

They are yet to lose at home in Europe as they beat Crusaders and held Dundalk to a 0-0 draw, but the Candystripes should have enough quality to come away with a lead.

Derry are in fine form in Ireland’s Premier Division as they challenge for the title and have won four of their last five games.

The visitors are fully up to speed as they are deep into their domestic campaign, while this is Magpies’ first competitive outing since May and that will probably work against them.

Three of Derry’s last four wins have come by two or more goals and they can cover a -1 handicap here.

Magpies failed to score against Dundalk last term in the home leg and may find Derry’s defence a bit too strong here as well, as the visitors have conceded just 22 goals in 25 league games. Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side are also in good scoring form with 13 goals across their last five games so a 3-0 win for Derry looks a reasonable correct score prediction.