Inter d'Escaldes Hosts Drita in Decisive Conference League Playoff

Inter d'Escaldes faces Kosovo champions Drita tonight at 19:00 in the Nou Estadi de la FAF in Encamp, with the Conference League second-round play-off tie locked at 2-2 after last week's first leg in Pristina.

Coach Felip Ortiz, the former Barcelona youth coach and assistant under Sergi Barjuan, spoke of the emotional stakes ahead of the return leg. He reflected on the club's league triumph last season and two months of focused preparation, stressing the need to stay grounded. "Many things are going through my mind," Ortiz said. He called for improvements on errors from the away draw—where goals came from Domi Berlanga and David López—while reinforcing the team's strengths. "To get here, we've had to do many good things," he noted, insisting on fidelity to their bold, possession-based style despite the early concession in Pristina. Ortiz predicted a tense battle: "Whoever controls all the sequences over 90 minutes will win the tie."

The Lleidan coach dismissed any tactical shift, even against a Drita side led by Ardijan Nuhiji that reached the Conference League league phase last season. The Kosovars from Gjilan finished 20th with two wins, two draws and two losses, before losing in the play-offs to Slovenia's Celje. Ortiz acknowledged their threat, citing Drita's recent scoring form of six or eight goals in three matches, but highlighted Inter's home edge and fan support to exploit opponents' nerves.

Winger Domi Berlanga, the Moroccan-born scorer in Pristina, described the match as one of the club's most pivotal. "We got a very good result there, and now it's about our home game in front of our fans," he said, expressing calm confidence despite the anxiety. Berlanga praised Ortiz's attacking philosophy since his arrival, which avoided defensive retreat even on a poor pitch abroad. The squad also monitors midfielder Antonio Otegui, due to become a father soon.

Ortiz emphasised the broader impact: reaching the group stage would mark uncharted territory for any Andorran club from the Lliga Multisegur Assegurances. "It would be very important, not just for Inter, but to carry this name across Europe," he said. Drita entered as favourites, but Inter's resilience has levelled the contest.