For sixteen years in the Austrian Bundesliga, Rapid Vienna has been ranked fifth to second, without ever reaching the championship title. However, to some extent, such results testify to the stable level of the capital club. Even now, Rapid are second behind the new flagship of Austrian football, Sturm, who replaced Salzburg. Despite the fact that the team started the season in the Europa League qualification, they have to play in the Conference League. After overcoming barriers in the form of Wisła Kraków and Trabzonspor, the Viennese team failed to cope with Braga in the qualification play-offs. Shamrock Rovers won a fourth consecutive All-Ireland title last season and started their European journey in Champions League qualifying. Only one of Shamrock Rovers' three previous campaigns had taken them all the way to the group stage of the Conference League, so there were sceptical predictions about their prospects this time around. However, the Irish champion, having expectedly left the Champions League and Europa League qualification, found themselves in the third tournament of the continent, where they made a pretty good start to the overall stage. Bookmakers have identified the home team as the favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 1.25 on their victory.

Rapid Vienna lost only one match out of fourteen in the national Austrian league. It took place two full days before the return leg of the Europa League qualification play-off against Braga, so the reasons for the failure are absolutely clear. More interesting are two facts from the football path of the Viennese club in the current season. Firstly, Rapid have beaten Salzburg and Austria at home, and have drawn away with Sturm. These three rivals make up the full list of competitors in the fight for the top spots in the Bundesliga. Secondly, Rapid have won all three of their Conference League matches, taking out Başakşehir, Noa and Petrokub.

Shamrock Rovers is a team that fits very well into the list of opponents defeated by Rapid. The Irish have seven points from three rounds, but they haven't faced opponents of the Viennese club's level since the summer, when Sparta Prague and PAOK each lost twice. The hosts will beat their opponents by at least two goals.