Borac Banja Luka vs O. Ljubljana prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-02-12 20:00.
[p]A first-ever entry for Borac Banja Luka into the main draw of a UEFA competition has yielded an unprecedented occurrence, as theyâre now the first side from Bosnia and Herzegovina to ever feature in a European knockout round. They qualified from the league phase of the UEFA Conference League by finishing in 20th position, after avoiding defeat in four of their six games (W2, D2). [/p]
[p]Mladen ĆœiĆŸoviÄâs men have been rewarded with a home first-leg encounter against Olimpija Ljubljana – their first H2H and Boracâs first meeting with a Slovenian side. Despite a daunting away leg on the horizon, the Red and Blues will carry the momentum of winning eight of their last 11 games into this tie (D1, L2). [/p]
[p]Olimpija qualified from the league phase two points and six places better off than their hosts, after also losing just two of their six matches (W3, D1) – keeping a clean sheet in all four avoidances of defeat. That ensured that they now have their first-ever taste of knockout European football, and winning their two domestic games since their last European outing will have the Dragons believing.[/p]
[p]Manager VĂctor SĂĄnchez will no doubt remind his Olimpija players of their recent form on their travels too, as they have lost just once on their last 18 road trips (W12, D5). Theyâll need to make use of all that momentum if they want to return home with a first-leg lead though, as battling teams from Bosnia has historically proven difficult, with the Green and Whites winning only one of their previous five such matches (D1, L3). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: A slow start for Borac wonât deter ÄorÄe DespotoviÄ from potentially having an impact, as 12 of his last 15 club goals have come after half-time. Hoping to undercut him will be Olimpijaâs Ălex Blanco, who has scored three of his last four goals inside 15 minutes. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Olimpija have led at half-time in just two of their last 11 games – but have gone on to win seven of those matches (D3, L1)[/p]
[p][i]Written by Peter Stavrinou[/i][/p]