KÍ vs Borac Banja Luka Prediction: KÍ Klaksvík are expected to secure a 2-1 win over Borac Banja Luka in this Europa League qualifier, leveraging their home advantage and recent European experience.
The UEFA Europa League third qualifying round kicks off this Thursday with an intriguing matchup between KÍ Klaksvík of the Faroe Islands and Borac Banja Luka from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both sides are aiming to edge closer to the group stages after dropping down from Champions League qualifying. Let’s dive into all the key details for this first-leg clash.
Match Details
Competition: UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round, First Leg
Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024
Kickoff: 18:00 local time / 17:00 BST
Venue: Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Match Preview
KÍ Klaksvík enter this tie with confidence after their historic European run last season. The Faroese champions became the first team from their nation to reach the group stages of a UEFA competition, picking up four points in the Europa Conference League.
Their Champions League dreams were dashed by a narrow 6-4 aggregate loss to Malmö FF, but KÍ showed their quality by winning the second leg. Currently sitting second in their domestic league, KÍ will be eager to prove last year’s European success was no fluke.
Borac Banja Luka, meanwhile, are looking to reach the main stages of European competition for the first time since 1988. The Bosnian side gave a good account of themselves against PAOK in Champions League qualifying, only losing 4-2 on aggregate.
While their domestic season is yet to begin, Borac will hope their continental experience so far gives them an edge. Manager Zizovic has instilled a fighting spirit in his squad that could serve them well in what promises to be a closely contested tie.
Projected KÍ vs Borac Banja Luka Lineups and Formation
KÍ Klaksvík Lineup (4-3-3): Petersen, Berntsson, Danielsen, Vatnsdal, Klettskard, Jensen, Ejupi, Odemarksbakken, Da Silva, Joensen, Williams
Borac Banja Luka Lienup (4-2-3-1): Vukovic, Meijers, Skorup, Herrera, Grahovac, Lukic, Kulasin, Siskovski, Kvrzic, Carolina, Savic
Injury and Availability Update
- As of now, neither KÍ Klaksvík nor Borac Banja Luka have reported any major injury concerns.
- Both managers are expected to have full squads available for selection.
- No specific players have been mentioned as injured or unavailable for this match.
Where to Watch?
The match will be broadcast live on KvF in the Faroe Islands. Fans in Bosnia and Herzegovina can catch the action on Arena Sport 1.
KÍ vs Borac Banja Luka Live Stream and TV Schedule for other Countries:
- Croatia: MAXtv To Go, Arena Sport 3 Croatia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Moja TV, Arena Sport 1P
Who Will Win?
This tie is finely poised, with both sides having reasons for optimism. KÍ’s home advantage and recent European pedigree give them a slight edge, but Borac’s battling qualities make them dangerous underdogs.
Prediction: KÍ Klaksvík 2-1 Borac Banja Luka
The Faroese side’s experience from last season’s European run could prove crucial in a tight encounter. Expect KÍ to push for a first-leg advantage, but Borac to grab a vital away goal to keep the tie alive.
Key Stats and Form
KÍ Klaksvík’s recent form: W-L-D-L-W
Borac Banja Luka’s recent form: L-L-W-W-L
KÍ have won 13 of their 17 domestic league matches this season. Borac impressed by scoring twice against PAOK in their recent Champions League qualifier.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first-ever meeting between KÍ Klaksvík and Borac Banja Luka.
Current Standings
As this is a qualifying round match, there are no current standings to report. Both teams are competing to reach the Europa League play-off round, with the losers dropping into the Europa Conference League play-offs.
Latest News
KÍ’s recent 4-0 league win saw new signing Kristoffer Odemarksbakken net his first two goals for the club. The winger could be a key player to watch in this European tie.
Borac manager Mladen Zizovic praised his team’s fighting spirit after their narrow loss to PAOK, emphasizing their readiness for another tough European test.
This intriguing Europa League qualifier sets the stage for an exciting battle between two sides dreaming of group-stage football. With everything to play for, expect a closely fought contest at the Tórsvøllur on Thursday night.
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