Borac Banja Luka vs Omonia prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-18 20:00.
[p]Excitement is building for fans of Borac Banja Luka, who stand on the brink of history. The Bosnian club know that merely avoiding defeat in their final game in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League will be enough to ensure they become the first team from their country to progress to the knockout stages of a major European competition.[/p]
[p]That would be quite the achievement for Mladen Žižović’s side, who are already enjoying their best-ever run in a UEFA tournament. They have won two of their five fixtures so far (D1, L2), and after a wobble earlier this month when they lost back-to-back games across all competitions for the first time since August – including a 3-0 thumping against Shamrock Rovers on matchday five – Borac head into this clash having registered an important victory at the weekend, when they beat Sloboda 3-2. [/p]
[p]Looking to stop them from progressing will be an Omonia Nicosia side who boosted their own hopes of reaching the knockout play-offs by winning 3-1 at home to Rapid Vienna in their most recent Conference League outing. That result means the Queens will be playing European football after Christmas for the first time if they pick up another victory in Bosnia.[/p]
[p]With six points to their name so far (W2, L3), even a draw could be enough for Giannis Anastasiou’s side to finish in the top-24. Anastasiou suffered the first loss of his temporary reign at the weekend (W2, D1), and will be keen not to let any negativity stew as they gear up for the third away assignment of this league phase, with the previous two ending in defeats ‘to nil’.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Borac’s Đorđe Despotović netted a brace at the weekend, extending his run of unbeaten club appearances when scoring to 13 matches (W10, D3). Attempting to outgun him will be Omonia’s Andronikos Kakoullis, who scored and assisted on matchday five and has netted six of his last eight strikes after half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Omonia have not drawn any of their 12 away games this season (W6, L6), with the team who scored first winning on each occasion.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]