Finnish clubs had contrasting evenings on Thursday as they sought to make it through to the group stages of Europe's second and third most prestigious continental club football tournaments.
HJK Helsinki went down to a narrow defeat against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, leaving them with a chance of progression to the Europa League group stage, but KuPS look set to exit European competition after a 4-0 home defeat against Union Berlin.
HJK coach Toni Koskela told the club website he had "mixed feelings" after his club kept German superstar Mesut Özil quiet, only to see him replaced by Muhammed Gümüskaya, who scored the winner on 65 minutes.
"In my opinion we played a good match and were the better side for long spells," said Koskela. "We could have gotten an even better starting point for the home match. But everything is open and we will definitely be strong at home."
KuPS come a cropper
Kuopio team KuPS had a much less enjoyable evening against Union Berlin in the Conference League playoffs, losing 4-0 after conceding three goals in the first 31 minutes.
Taiwo Awonyi got two goals, Max Kruse scored one and Andreas Voglsammer added a fourth deep into injury time.
The match was played in Helsinki as KuPS' home stadium in North Savo does not meet Uefa requirements. Union Berlin are not allowed to play European games at home either, with the second leg in the German capital held next Thursday at the city's Olympic Stadium.
They were able to play in front of fans however, as new restrictions on gatherings in the capital region do not come into force until Friday 20 August.
HJK say they will also try to play in front of nearly 5,000 fans, as they will split the seats into blocks. They are following the lead of the National Opera, which has announced that Friday's performance of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci will not stick to the rules laid down by regional authorities.
The audience will be roughly a fifth of capacity, but they will not have separate entrances and refreshment stands as they enjoy Pietro Mascagni’s and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s works.
HJK will operate a similar policy as they welcome the 28-time Turkish champions to Töölö, splitting the crowd into different seating blocks but allowing them to mix as they enter, leave and obtain snacks.
HJK will progress in Europe even if they lose this tie, as they would then drop into the Conference League group stages rather than play in the slightly more prestigious Europa League.