An electrifying encounter on the island of Ireland will see Shelbourne host Linfield on Wednesday, launching the 2025-26 Champions League season with impressive flair.

The League of Ireland champions face their Irish Premiership rivals at Tolka Park, starting a highly anticipated first qualifying round tie.

Led by former Chelsea winger Damien Duff, Shelbourne secured their first Premier Division title in 18 years last season, thanks to a dramatic final-day victory over Derry City.

However, the Dublin club is no longer in contention to defend their title, as they failed to meet heightened expectations; frustrated by his inability to improve results in Drumcondra, Duff recently resigned.

After earning just one point from their last three games, Shelbourne eased some pressure with a 3-1 win over bottom-dwelling Cork City, leaving them fifth in the LOI table but 14 points behind the leaders.

Duff's former assistant Joey O’Brien could mark his first win as permanent manager and now faces his European debut.

Seven spots remain available in the Champions League's 36-team league phase, with the process ending in August's playoffs, and Shelbourne begins their campaign on home soil.

Eliminated from Conference League qualifying by FC Zurich last year, the Reds have won only four of 20 qualifiers for UEFA's premier tournament, but they are highly motivated to advance in this round.

Not only would winning over two legs set up a second-round matchup against Qarabag, but defeating Linfield would crown them as unofficial champions of the island of Ireland.

These teams last met in the 2006 Setanta Cup group stage, a year after Linfield won the now-discontinued cross-border tournament with a 2-0 victory over Shelbourne at Tolka Park in the final.

Northern Ireland's most successful club, Linfield, returns to Dublin after dominating the 2024-25 Irish Premiership, finishing 22 points ahead of second-place Larne.

The Blues are frequent participants in Europe's top competition—they even reached the 1967 European Cup quarter-finals—but they have never qualified for a UEFA group stage.

While Duff has left Shelbourne, Linfield's long-serving manager David Healy recently extended his contract in south Belfast; as Northern Ireland's all-time top scorer, he has been in charge for a decade.

However, his team suffered a rare defeat to Dungannon Swifts in last week's NIFL Charity Shield, losing 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at Windsor Park.

After that setback, Healy's squad will return to their home ground next week for the second leg of this crucial Champions League contest.

Shelbourne possible starting lineup: Kearns; Coyle, Barrett, Ledwidge; Caffrey, Lunney, McInroy, Norris; Wood, Coote; Odubeko

Linfield possible starting lineup: Johns; East, Hall, Orr, McGee; Allen, Mulgrew; Archer, Millar, Morrison; Fitzpatrick