Plagued by injuries to some key players, as well as the unavailability of others, Birkirkara will be an understrength side when they face APOEL in Nicosia this evening in the second leg of the UEFA Cup first qualifying round.

This renders Birkirkara’s chances of advancing in the competition a further remote possibility, especially after suffering a 2-0 home defeat in the first leg.

Birkirkara’s squad is bereft of injured players Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Michael Galea and defender Roderick Sammut. The former two have also missed the first match.

Chucks Nwoko and Justin Haber are also missing after having yet failed to agree new terms with the club for the new season.

Although technically inferior to their opponents, Birkirkara looked capable of holding at least to a draw in the first leg match at Ta’ Qali but they unfortunately conceded two late goals in the final 18 minutes to dampen their hopes for qualification and deprive them from a positive result in European competition.

Kick-off time of the match is 8pm and the referee will be Pavel Kralovec of the Czech Republic.