Hopeful Hibs but confident Glasgow City in Europa Cup

10 hours ago 53

Hibernian co-head coaches Joelle Murray (left) and Stewart Hall (right) and team manager Grant Scott

ByJack Herrall

BBC Sport Scotland

A chastening 4-1 defeat and a comfortable 3-0 cushion - Scotland's two sides in the Europa Cup will have polar-opposite game-plans for Wednesday's first qualifying round second legs.

Scottish champions Hibernian were trounced in Italy by a ruthless Inter Milan side, while runners-up Glasgow City eased aside Ireland's Athlone Town with three unanswered goals.

They face contrasting return legs in the inaugural competition, but Hibs defender Siobhan Hunter insists "stranger things have happened" as the Leith outfit eye an almighty comeback and a place in Friday's second qualifying round draw.

Can Hibs mount historic comeback?

Despite their loss in Milan, Hibs can take plenty of heart from the first leg.

Coach Joelle Murray was full of praise for the side after their defeat, saying the players "never let their head down, not once within the 90 minutes".

A similar level of effort, discipline and commitment will be needed if they are to come close to overhauling the deficit at Easter Road.

Hunter says they "definitely have the belief" to do that.

The key to it, though? "Being ready from the first minute."

Hibs were two goals down after 10 minutes in Italy, which "killed the game", but a strike from Eilidh Adams to reduce the deficit has lifted hopes in Leith.

"We have to be ready from minute one," Hunter said.

"I think the two early goals probably killed the game too early for us. So we have to be ready to come out flying.

"I think the majority of the time we were hard to beat, but it's just those little concentration collapses and they can score.

"They're a massive team and they've got so much quality and they will punish you at that level."

The reigning SWPL champions picked themselves up with a comfortable 5-0 trouncing of Montrose and Hunter is urging her team-mates to use their experience of defying the odds when securing an unlikely title last term.

"I've seen a few interviews, the pressure's off, they're expected to win, they're favourites," she said.

"It's a bit like last year. We weren't favourites to do anything at the top of the table and we went and done it.

"Football is a strange game. Stranger things have happened. It's a hard task but one we're relishing."

Will City make their first-leg lead count?

Leanne Ross' City have won all four of their opening SWPL fixtures and will undoubtedly go into their second leg full of confidence.

"With the result, we're more than happy with that," Ross told BBC Alba in the aftermath of their first-leg triumph.

"Putting ourselves 3-0 ahead in the tie is certainly what we wanted."

They've already scored 10 goals in the league and will look to in-form midfielder Sofia Maatta to follow up on her first-leg heroics.

The Finland international set up all three midweek goals, which were scored by Amy Anderson, Linda Motlhalo and Lisa Forrest, and teed up Natalia Wrobel for the only goal at the weekend against Hamilton Academical.

With the domestic top flight as competitive as it has ever been, with City, Hibs, Hearts, Celtic and Rangers all eyeing a title challenge, the increased exposure and revenue that comes with European competition could give Ross' side an upper hand.