Venables and Penybont face familiar opponents in the UEFA Conference

Chris Venables is preparing for a memorable rematch with Andorra team, Santa Coloma, within the UEFA Conference League. Venables had memorable moments in the previous meeting, when he scored the first goal in Penybont's European Cup history in the first qualifying round in 2024. However, the match did not go smoothly in the second leg, when Venables was sent off and Penybont lost by two goals in extra time, thereby being eliminated from the tournament.

"Certainly we have a bit of history with Santa Coloma, which reduces the element of surprise somewhat," Venables told BBC Sport Wales. "It gives us a view not only on tactics but also on how the players behave. They will also have a view of us from the previous match, so they will understand how we played. But compared to our squad in that match, now it is completely different, and so is our way of playing, so we cannot rely on that alone."


Soon to be 41, Venables has made over 20 appearances in European competitions for clubs such as Aberystwyth Town, Llanelli and Bala Town. However, only once has he seen his team win a European match, when he scored the winning goal for Bala against Malta's Valletta in the Europa League in 2020. "We know what it's like to play in Europe. We understand how difficult it is - last time proved that," Venables said of Penybont's 4-1 defeat to Lithuania's Kauno Zalgiris last season. "It's not easy, and I've only been through it once, which tells you all you need to know. It means you need to be very well prepared and the way our season ended also requires preparation from coming out of the championship phase. Often, you'll be facing clubs that are in season, which has a big impact because they're ready, while you're trying to get to the level that you need without having a season." This is always a challenge."

Cardiff City Stadium will be the venue for the first leg on Thursday, and Venables is looking forward to playing there, where Penybont played in the Welsh Cup final in 2022. "We would love to play at Penybont if possible," Venables added. "But it will be a great experience for the players playing in Cardiff and a good occasion for the fans as well. Hopefully we will have a lot of fans cheering and they will make a difference in the first leg, I'm sure they will and they will also do that when we play away from home. We have had great support the last two times we have been in Europe, and hopefully we will get the support." same again.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Chris Venables score Penybont's first European goal?

Chris Venables scored his first goal for Penybont in the first qualifying round of 2024.

Who is Penybont's opponent in the UEFA Conference League match?

Penybont's opponent in the UEFA Conference League match is Santa Coloma.

How many appearances has Chris Venables made in European competitions?

Chris Venables has made more than 20 appearances in European competitions.

Which tournament were Penybont eliminated from in their previous meeting with Santa Coloma?

Penybont was eliminated from the UEFA Conference League in the previous meeting with Santa Coloma.

For which team in the Europa League did Chris Venables score the winning goal?

Chris Venables scored the decisive goal for Bala Town against Valletta of Malta in the Europa League in 2020.

Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.