The New Saints vs Sabah FA
- First leg:
- Sabah FA 2 0 The New Saints
- Aggregate:
- The New Saints 1 4 Sabah FA
- Advances:
- Sabah FA
Match recap
Sabah FA beat The New Saints 2–1 in their UEFA Champions League fixture. Mickels scored for Sabah FA. The New Saints held 46% possession to 54% for Sabah FA.
Fipster’s pre-match call
Predicted
3-0 The New Saints win
Actual
1–2
Outcome probability
The New Saints face Sabah FA in the 1st Qualifying Round, aiming to reverse their fortunes after a couple of tough matches in this competition. Sabah FA, meanwhile, come with a decent record but have yet to make a mark against The New Saints in this fixture.
Match factors
Sabah FA's attacking efficiency
Sabah FA averages 2.3 goals per game with key scorers Mickels and Simić leading the charge.
Puchacz's assist threat from defense
Tymoteusz Puchacz has 3 assists this season, providing significant creative output from defense.
Sabah FA's midfield creativity vs The New Saints' defense
Sabah's midfielders Isaev and Simić offer strong creative and scoring threat against a New Saints defense conceding 2 goals per home game.
No confirmed absences for key attackers
Both teams have no confirmed injuries among top scorers and assisters, ensuring full attacking strength.
The context
In this competition, The New Saints have struggled so far, losing both matches and conceding four goals while scoring just once. Sabah FA have been more active with nine matches played, securing six wins but also suffering three losses. Notably, Sabah FA have won both previous encounters against The New Saints, adding an intriguing edge to this tie.
Key insights
Joy-Lance Mickels
Sabah FA
Mickels is Sabah FA's top scorer with 3 goals this season, making him a constant threat up front.
UEFA Champions League 26/273 goals in 9 games, 0.33 avg per game
Veljko Simić
Sabah FA
Simić has been in excellent scoring form recently, netting 4 goals in his last 5 games, boosting Sabah's attack.
UEFA Champions League 26/273 goals in 9 games, 0.33 avg per game
Tymoteusz Puchacz
Sabah FA
Puchacz leads with 3 assists this season, providing creative support from defence.
UEFA Champions League 26/273 assists in 9 games, 0.33 avg per game
Aleksey Isaev
Sabah FA
Isaev contributes creativity and assists from midfield, making Sabah's attack more dynamic.
UEFA Champions League 26/273 assists in 9 games, 0.33 avg per game
Analysis
Despite Sabah FA's better overall record in the competition, The New Saints are poised to turn the tide. Sabah's attacking threats, including Joy-Lance Mickels and Veljko Simić, have been impressive, but The New Saints' defence is expected to tighten up. The midfield creativity of Sabah's Aleksey Isaev and Simić will test The New Saints, but the home side's determination to improve their record should see them dominate proceedings.
Key facts
- 1.The New Saints have lost both matches in this competition, scoring 1 and conceding 4 goals.
- 2.Sabah FA have played 9 matches with 6 wins and 3 losses, scoring 16 and conceding 11 goals.
- 3.Sabah FA won both previous meetings against The New Saints.
- 4.The New Saints are predicted to win 3-0 after losing their last two matches in this competition.
- 5.Joy-Lance Mickels is a key offensive threat for Sabah FA with 1 goal in this fixture.
Prediction
We predict a confident 3-0 win for The New Saints, with a 1-0 lead at halftime setting the tone. This scoreline reflects the home side's potential to control the game and keep Sabah FA at bay, capitalising on their attacking opportunities while maintaining defensive solidity.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — The New Saints
No standout top scorers flagged for The New Saints
Away — Sabah FA
The verdict
The New Saints look ready to make a statement in this qualifying round, overcoming past defeats with a strong, clean-sheet performance. Sabah FA will need to rethink their approach if they are to avoid a similar fate in future meetings.
Prediction generated 13 Oct 2026, 11:38 UTC · Fipster Model v1.163
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Lepinjica
Yellow Card
Mickels
Assist: Malouda
Goal
Assist: Puchacz
Williams
Hughes
Yellow Card
Smith
Unknown
Mickels
Lepinjica
Brobbel
Yellow Card
Brobbel
Malouda
Simić
Isaev
Redmond
Goal
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Aston Villa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 27 |  Slovan Bratislava | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 |  Sabah FA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Match Statistics
The New Saints
4-4-2Starting XI
- 1N. ShepperdG
- 4D. CornessM
- 6J. BodenhamD
- 8R. BrobbelM
- 10D. RedmondM
- 14D. WilliamsD
- 15E. FarrellM
- 16D. SimeuD
- 17J. WilliamsF
- 20R. HughesM
- 21L. SmithM
Substitutes
- 7Daniel BartonF
- 12Harvey George Godsmark-FordD
- 19B. ClarkM
- 22D. DaviesD
- 23Z. NolanD
- 24Jack Richard NadinM
- 26Louis Phillips
- 27J. CanavanM
- 31B. Woollam
- 34J. LockM
- 37Isaac JefferiesM
- 44G. JenkinsG
Sabah FA
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 5R. DaşdəmirovD
- 7U. RahmonaliyevM
- 10A. IsaevM
- 13I. LepinjicaM
- 19A. MaloudaM
- 20J. MickelsF
- 21V. SimićM
- 27T. PuchaczD
- 33Erivaldo AlmeidaD
- 80A. ZedadkaD
- 92S. PokatilovG
Substitutes
- 1A. RamazanovG
- 4A. McCarthyD
- 6A. XaybulayevM
- 11K. ParrisM
- 16R. RüstəmliM
- 17T. Mutallimov
- 23Y. LachaabF
- 34X. SeverinaM
- 88Rodrigo FernandesM
- 89Cafar MukhtarovM
- 94R. MirzəmmədovG
- 99P. MbinaF
The New Saints
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Williams | F | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Brobbel | M | 74 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| B. Clark | M | 30 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Redmond | M | 83 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| L. Smith | M | 60 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Davies | D | 45 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Simeu | D | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Hughes | M | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Williams | D | 45 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Eoin Farrell | — | 60 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harvey George Godsmark-Ford | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Corness | M | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jack Richard Nadin | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| B. Woollam | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Isaac Jefferies | M | 30 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Z. Nolan | — | 7 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Daniel Barton | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Sabah FA
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V. Simić | M | 76 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| I. Lepinjica | M | 70 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Zedadka | D | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| K. Parris | M | 14 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| T. Puchacz | D | 90 | 0.0 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| A. Isaev | M | 82 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| S. Pokatilov | G | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Mickels | F | 70 | 0.0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rodrigo Fernandes | M | 20 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P. Mbina | F | 20 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Erivaldo Almeida | D | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| X. Severina | M | 8 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| U. Rahmonaliyev | M | 90 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Ramazanov | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. McCarthy | — | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Malouda | M | 76 | 0.0 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Y. Lachaab | F | 14 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Prediction Q&A
- Who did Fipster predict to win The New Saints vs Sabah FA?
- Fipster's AI model predicted The New Saints to win against Sabah FA.
- What score did Fipster predict for The New Saints vs Sabah FA?
- Fipster predicted a final score of The New Saints 3–0 Sabah FA.
- What were the win probabilities for The New Saints vs Sabah FA?
- Fipster's model gave The New Saints a 85% chance of winning, Sabah FA a 7% chance, and a 8% chance of a draw.
- How confident was Fipster in this prediction?
- Fipster's model assigned this prediction 85% confidence — a high-confidence call.