Dundalk boss setting his sights on £2.76m prize

DUNDALK manager Filippo Giovagnoli believes his side are capable of securing the two wins they need to qualify for the Europa League group stages if they can hit their maximum level of performance.

The League of Ireland champions are in Transnistria, a breakaway region, ahead of their showdown with Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol this evening.

Giovagnoli’s side will need to upset the form book in the one-legged tie if they are to shock Sheriff, but the reward for the winners is a home tie in the final play-off round against Georgian top dogs Dinamo Tbilisi or Faroese side Ki.

The winners of tonight’s game are guaranteed an additional €300,000 (£276,000) but next week’s tie would be worth close to €3m(£2.76m).

Giovagnoli does not believe it is out of reach to emerge through a section which only contains sides that have been knocked out of the Champions League.

“If we perform at the highest level, I think we can be in the group stage, yes, I believe so,” said Giovagnoli. “Why not? Of course, we have to perform at the best level we can.

“I think there is a lot more potential in this team, especially if we think about the style and way to play the game.

“We’ve done a lot of research on Sheriff, even (new) individual players they have signed so we know what the challenge is.

“It’s really big. But we are excited and we are going to perform. Trust me.”

Elsewhere tonight, Motherwell fresh from their narrow squeak against Coleraine travel to Israel to play Hapoel Beer-sheva and Aberdeen have a daunting trip to Sporting Lisbon.