Legia starting to turn the screw now as Luquinhas slips in behind. His cut-back results in a shot from Pekhart but Clarke is there to block and Johns is able to gather.

Legia are looking particularly menacing down the left side.

Mladenovic's delivery is defended competently by the visitors but they're unable to mount a counter-attack.

Boyle trips Luquinhas and Legia have a free-kick in a decent area...

Luquinhas slips in behind following a neat one-two but his cross clips off a Linfield defender and into Johns' hands.

Shayne Lavery has picked up a bump to the head and goes off temporarily.

Linfield goalkeeper Chris Johns is yet to make a save but Legia full-back Mladenovic has whipped in a couple of dangerous crosses already.

The Polish champions are making early use of some space on the flanks.

Fairly subdued opening couple of minutes here. Legia - as expected - controlling possession early on.

We're underway. Big test coming up for Linfield...

Man vs sprinkler...there's only ever one winner!

Legia have no shortage of experience in Europe's elite club competition.

While their strongest showing was a run to the 1970 European Cup semi-final, they have rubbed shoulders with the continent's best in recent years.

In 2016, they made an impression after returning to the Champions League group stage for the first time in 21 years, drawing 3-3 at home with holders Real Madrid before losing 8-4 to Borussia Dortmund in the highest-scoring game in the competition's history.

Linfield's best run saw them reach the quarter-final during the 1966-67 season, and while they lost 6-0 on aggregate to Rosenborg at this stage last year, they demonstrated some European pedigree of their own by narrowly missing out on the Europa League group stage.

Image source, ge

Linfield boss David Healy has made four changes to the side that beat Tre Fiori in the preliminary sem-final, with Matthew Clarke, Mark Stafford, Bastien Hery and Stephen Fallon all recalled as Jimmy Callacher, Kyle McClean, Daniel Kearns and Navid Nasseri drop out.

It looks as though Healy has gone for a 5-4-1 with Shayne Lavery as the lone striker. Christy Manzinga, who scored against Tre Fiori, has to settle for a place on the bench alongside fellow new recruits Nasseri and Conor Pepper.

Jimmy Callacher, who limped off during Saturday's friendly defeat by Stoke City at Windsor Park, has not made the squad. Andrew Waterworth, Jordan Stewart and Mark Haughey also miss out.

As expected, 40-year-old Artur Boruc starts in goal for the hosts. Legia manager Aleksandar Lukovic has unsurprisingly fielded a more attack-minded team, with striker Tomas Pekhart supported by Pawel Wszolek and Luquinhas.

Legia Warsaw: Boruc, Mladenovic, Jedrzejczyk, Wieteska, Karbownik; Antolic, Gvilia, Slisz; Wszolek, Luquinhas, Pekhart.

Subs: Cierzniak, Holownia, Lewczuk, Luis Rocha, Kante, Andre Martins, Rosolek.

Linfield: Johns; Boyle, Quinn, Larkin, Clarke, Stafford; Hery, Fallon, Mulgrew, Millar, Lavery.

Subs: Moore, Manzinga, Nasseri, Kearns, McClean, Pepper, Hume.

Image source, BBC Sport

On a big week for Irish League sides in Europe, Linfield hope to cause a major upset this evening as they take on Polish champions Legia Warsaw at Polish Army Stadium for a place in the second round of the Champions League qualifiers.

Irish Premiership champions Linfield last week received a bye through to this stage as their preliminary round final against Drita was called off after two players from the Kosovan side tested positive for Covid-19.

However, tonight's behind-closed-doors game will go ahead despite Legia confirming late on Monday that one of their players had also returned a positive test.

Linfield boss David Healy was pleased with how his team saw off the challenge of San Marino's Tre Fiori in the preliminary semi-final, but there is no question that tonight's opponents represent a dramatic step-up in quality.

Former Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc will be a familiar face to Blues supporters, while physical striker Tomas Pekhart will likely prove a handful for the Linfield centre-backs. It is also worth keeping an eye out for 19-year-old full-back Michal Karbownik, who is expected to move to a top European club sooner rather than later.

As for Linfield, Healy will hope Shayne Lavery can replicate his European heroics last season, while the Belfast side require a herculean effort from captain Jamie Mulgrew and his lieutenants in midfield to make the game as difficult as possible for their hosts.

Even without the usual boisterous Legia support, it should be a fascinating battle in Warsaw this evening. We hope you can stay with us through to the end.

Image source, Getty Images