Jagiellonia vs O. Ljubljana prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-18 20:00.
[p]Jagiellonia Białystok is are assured of progressing beyond the league phase in their debut UEFA main draw appearance, but will still be gunning to retain their UEFA Conference League top-eight status which guarantees automatic qualification to the Round of 16. Their sole defeat (W3, D1, L1), which came last matchday against Mladá Boleslav (L 1-0), was their first loss in 18 competitive matches (W11, D6). [/p]
[p]Another adverse result here could force Jaga to go through the play-offs to reach the Round of 16, but the hosts will hope their European journey, in a season that started in the Champions League qualifiers, continues in a positive manner. They should get a boost from their home form, where they are unbeaten across their last eight competitive matches (W5, D3), including winning both Conference League games without conceding.[/p]
[p]Similarly to their hosts, Olimpija Ljubljana are guaranteed a top-24 spot and are also coming off a defeat in this competition last round (L 4-1 v Cercle Brugge) that ended their 11-game unbeaten run (W9, D2) prior. The visitors can push for an automatic knockout berth, which would be their first in UEFA competitions, and will hope to revive their defensive reliability that landed nine clean sheets across their last 12 competitive games, including three wins ‘to nil’ in this competition.[/p]
[p]The Dragons responded to each of their last three defeats in this competition with a win, a repeat of which the travelling fans will hope. A six-game unbeaten run on the road (W5, D1) gives enough ammunition to fuel those ambitions, which further get amplified with the visitors’ record of four wins from their last six Conference League trips (D1, L1).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Jagiellonia haven’t lost any of the 12 games this season in which Jesús Imaz scored, but his impact may take time to arrive with seven of his last eight goals scored after half-time. Alejandro Blanco is a complete opposite, with the Olimpija forward scoring his last three competitive goals within the first 15 minutes of action, two of them serving as the match opener.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Jagiellonia conceded the opening goal in each of their last seven competitive matches.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]