FC Ballkani vs D. Zagreb prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-04 16:45.
It had been a long UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) journey for Ballkani even before qualifying for a second consecutive group stage (W5, L1 in qualifying), so theyâll have been disappointed with a 1-0 defeat to Viktoria PlzeĆ on matchday one. They donât appear to have suffered any ill-effects, converting a half-time lead into victory in three consecutive league games to go into this UECL round on top of Kosovoâs Superleague.
Home form is likely to be vital if the reigning Kosovan champions, who have already made history as the first side from their nation to reach the group stage of a European tournament, are to progress to the knockouts. Four of their six European wins this season have been collected within the comforts of home, but after picking up just one of a possible nine points at home in the group stage (D1, L2) in last seasonâs UECL, they shouldnât be getting ahead of themselves.
Not least because theyâll take on Dinamo Zagreb, who opened the group stage with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Astana before immediately following that up with two domestic victories by margins of at least four goals. A loss last round to fierce rivals Hajduk Split was a big blow that theyâll be desperate to recover from as they prepare for their first ever encounter with a Kosovan club.
This is also their first ever UECL away clash, which they will prepare for having lost five of their last seven European away games (W1, D1). After dropping into this third-tier competition for the first time, one season after they played six consecutive Champions League group stage games as the underdog (W1, D1, L4), Blues fans will expect their side to fare much better against Ballkani than the likes of Chelsea and AC Milan!
Players to watch: Nazmi Gripshi has scored between the 25th and 40th minutes in two of Ballkaniâs last three fixtures and already has three UECL goals this season, while Antonio Marin scored after half-time of two of Dinamoâs last four games.
Hot streak: Dinamo have received fewer cards than their opponents in each of their last four games.