The New Saints held off the challenge of Sammarinese outfit Tre Penne with a 2-1 win in their Champions League first qualifying round first leg.
Scott Quigley, Stefano Fraternali and Jamie Mullan traded goals in the first half in Oswestry, before a goalless second period saw TNS claim a narrow success.
The sides were two of eight champions featuring in the competition's earliest round on Tuesday evening, with Lincoln Red Imps remaining in with a chance of reaching the second round of qualifying despite a 2-1 defeat to Flora Tallinn in Estonia.
Gibraltar's most successful club fell two behind to strikes either side of half-time from Rauno Alliko and Rauno Sappinen, but Joseph Chipolina's magical run and finish provided a potentially vital away goal.
