Aston Villa vs Zrinjski prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-04 19:00.
Aston Villa’s first European group-stage appearance since 2008/09 didn’t begin in the best fashion as they lost 3-2 to Legia Warsaw in their UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) opener, a defeat which manager Unai Emery labelled as “tough”, opining his side couldn’t “control the rhythm”. They had no problems doing that on Saturday as they thumped Brighton 6-1, so confidence should be high heading into matchday two.
Villa Park should therefore be rocking as the 1981/82 European Cup winners welcome Zrinjski Mostar for their first-ever clash against a club from Bosnia & Herzegovina. Having lost just one of their last 12 competitive home games (W11), the Villans enter the match as heavy favourites, particularly after the weekend’s dismantling of Brighton was their tenth successive home league win.
But Zrinjski won’t be easily intimidated as they opened their UECL campaign with a remarkable 4-3 win over AZ Alkmaar on matchday one, making their first group-stage appearance one to remember by coming from 3-0 down at half-time. They’ve kicked on since, winning three times in the league to further boost their confidence ahead of a first-ever clash with an English club.
Travelling has been a problem lately as they’ve won just one of their last six European away fixtures (D2, L3), conceding first in each of the last three, so manager Krunoslav Rendulić will be keen to see his side start well. Doing so could be essential if they’re to better compatriots Zeljeznicar Sarajevo, who lost 4-0 at Newcastle in 2002 the last time a Bosnian club headed to England in European competition.
Players to watch: Ollie Watkins netted his second hat-trick of the season on Saturday, with his first coming against Hibernian in UECL qualifying in August. Tomislav Kiš scored both goals for Mostar against Igman Konjic on Sunday, taking his first-half goal tally for the season to four (total: six).
Hot stat: Four of Villa’s five home games this term witnessed scoring inside the opening 20 minutes (W4, L1).