Champions League | First qualifying round

Jul 8, 2025 at 4pm UK

KuPS vs Milsami

Match preview

KuPS were crowned the 2024 Veikkausliiga champions, ending their four-year wait for the title and securing their place in the Champions League qualifiers for the first time since 2020–21.

With the 2025 domestic season already underway, the Yellow-Blacks have maintained their momentum and currently lead the Finnish top flight with 29 points from 15 matches, putting them one point ahead of second-placed Ilves, who have a game in hand.

Following a brief dip in form in June, during which they lost two league matches in a row, Jarkko Wiss’s team have bounced back, remaining unbeaten in their last four games across all competitions, with two league wins, one draw, and a penalty shootout victory over Haka in the Finnish Cup.

KuPS have been particularly impressive in attack, scoring 12 goals in those four games. However, half of these came in a convincing 6-2 league win over Gnistan, highlighting their attacking prowess ahead of Tuesday’s match.

These teams have met before in European competition, when they clashed in the second qualifying round of the 2022–23 Conference League. KuPS won the tie 6–3 on aggregate.

Milsami managed to hold the Finns to a 2-2 draw away, but then lost 4-1 at home.

The Moldovan champions will be looking to build on their previous away result while aiming to avoid a repeat of their collapse in the second leg.

This is Milsami’s first appearance in the Champions League qualifiers since the 2015–16 season, when they reached the third qualifying round before losing 4–0 on aggregate to Albanian side Skënderbeu.

The Red Eagles are returning to Europe’s elite stage after winning the 2024 Moldovan Super Liga and claiming their second league title in 10 years.

However, they travel to Finland following a 2-1 home defeat to Sheriff Tiraspol, which ended their two-match winning streak and left them three points off the top of the table.

Team News

KuPS have no injury concerns and are expected to field the same starting XI that drew 2–2 with AC Oulu last time. Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba, who has scored five league goals so far this season, is set to lead the line alongside Agon Sadiku in a front two and will be the one to watch again.

Milsami also have a fully fit squad, which gives their manager plenty of options for this fixture.

Nigerian defender Christopher Nwaeze, on loan from Zorya, was sent off in a recent league match, but he is eligible to play in Europe and is likely to start at centre-back alongside fellow Nigerian Oladotun Olatunde-Matthew.

Possible starting lineup

KuPS possible starting lineup:

Hakala; Armah, Lotjonen, Miettinen, Hamalainen; Salo, Arifi, Voutilainen, Pennanen; Luyeye-Lutumba, Sadiku

Milsami possible starting lineup:

Timbur; Jardan, Olatunde-Matthew, Nwaeze, Takyi; Lisu, Yoda; Khali, Ginsari, Chele; London