Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Ferencvarosvs.Borac Banja Luka

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 August 2024, 19:50
Ferencvaros are set to host Borac Banja Luka on Thursday at Groupama Arena in the first leg of the Europa League's fourth and final qualifying round.

The home side were knocked out of the third round of the Champions League qualifiers by FC Midtjylland, while the visitors beat PAOK in the third round of the Europa League qualifiers.

Match preview

Hungarian champions Ferencvaros entered the Europa League qualifiers after they lost 3-1 on aggregate against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League playoffs.

The hosts lost the first leg 2-0 on August 6, and while they had a respectable 15 shots in comparison to Midtjylland's 17, many of their efforts were relatively tame.

Ferencvaros will be particularly concerned that their opponents managed to generate several good chances despite having just 39% possession.

Though they only managed to draw 1-1 in the second leg, their overall performance was much improved, with 12 shots inside the penalty area compared to Midtjylland's five.

Ferencvaros are currently third with nine points in their domestic league after three matches, though they have a game in hand on both teams above them.

The Green Eagles come into the clash having won five of their last seven games, and they are unbeaten in their last 11 competitive matches at home.

Opponents Borac Banja Luka lost 4-2 on aggregate against PAOK in the second round of the Champions League qualifiers.

In truth, the visitors were outclassed in both legs, with PAOK producing 18 shots across both games in contrast to Borac Banja Luka's six.

This figure includes just one shot in the second leg on July 31, a match that they needed to win considering they lost the first leg 3-2 on July 24.

However, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian top-flight champions bounced back from these defeats with a 4-3 aggregate win against Klaksvik in the Europa League's third qualifying round.

It should be noted that they did lose the first leg 2-1 on August 8, though they were forced to play with 10 men from the 36th minute after Sebastian Herrera was sent off for violent conduct.

Borac Banja Luka have lost their last three away games in European competitions and have in fact lost four of their previous six matches on the road.

Ferencvaros form (all competitions):

Borac Banja Luka Europa League form:

Borac Banja Luka form (all competitions):

Team News

Ferencvaros will be unable to select centre-back Raul Gustavo, who is absent due to his late red card against FC Midtjylland on August 13.

Striker Aleksandar Pesic is also a doubt for the game after he was subbed off due to injury in that match, and he could be replaced by Fortune Akpan Bassey.

As for the visitors, they will be without defender Sebastian Herrera due to suspension and could select Marko Vukcevic in his place.

Borac Banja Luka may also start Bart Meijers, Jurich Carolina and Zoran Kvrzic in defence.

Ferencvaros possible starting lineup:

Dibusz; Makreckis, Cisse, Knoester, Ramirez; Rommens, Abu Fani; Ben Romdhane, Zachariassen, Traore; Bassey

Borac Banja Luka possible starting lineup:

Siskovski; Kvrzic, Meijers, Carolina, Vukcevic; Grahovac, Skorup; Kulasin, Savic, Sreckovic; Lukic

We say: Ferencvaros 2-1 Borac Banja Luka

It would not be surprising if Thursday's match was a close affair, with both sides creating opportunities against somewhat vulnerable defences.

Previews by email

Top News

16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta Prague face Red Bull Salzburg on matchday one of the new league phase in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has revealed that Yoane Wissa will be sidelined for a "couple of months" with an ankle injury. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League holders Real Madrid get the new campaign underway when they host Stuttgart in the new-look league phase at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two clubs with an astonishing 13 European Cup/Champions League titles between them clash in Tuesday's league phase opener, as AC Milan host Liverpool at San Siro. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta United can move above the Eastern Conference playoff line in Major League Soccer (MLS) when they host Inter Miami on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly been shortlisted by two Premier League clubs for a possible January transfer. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For the first time since 2018, New York City FC can sweep their MLS regular-season series with the Philadelphia Union when they host them on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two places separate Orlando City and Charlotte FC in the Eastern Conference going into Wednesday night's gameweek 32 MLS action at Inter&Co Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have received a boost ahead of their Champions League clash with AC Milan on Tuesday, as midfielder Ismael Bennacer has been ruled out for the hosts. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich has revealed he would be happy to stay at the club for the foreseeable future in a blow to the clubs rumoured to be monitoring him. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has admitted that he will consider making changes to his starting lineup for Tuesday's Champions League opener against Young Boys. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Federico Chiesa could finally make his debut for the Reds against AC Milan on Tuesday night, having been included in Arne Slot's squad for their opening Champions League battle. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After all the hype - and a little confusion - the new-look Champions League will officially get under way this week, with 36 teams participating in an expanded league phase, which runs from now until early next year. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The bottom-ranked side from pot three faces the top-ranked club from pot four on matchday one of the Champions League on Wednesday, when Celtic host Slovan Bratislava. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul Basaksehir will travel to Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu to face Samsunspor on Wednesday evening in the Turkish Super Lig, aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the season. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have seemingly been handed a major boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League encounter at West Ham United. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has acknowledged that he wants to remain at the Bernabeu for as long as possible. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have announced that Dani Olmo will be sidelined through injury until after the October international break. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Jorginho broke a Premier League record during his side's win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Runners-up last season, Borussia Dortmund begin their latest quest to reclaim the Champions League trophy on Wednesday, when they visit Club Brugge at Jan Breydel Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing former Manchester United midfielder Angel Gomes. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester City defender and current academy coach Richard Dunne has suggested that Manchester United are closer to reaching the level of the Premier League champions than Chelsea, as he offered words of wisdom to both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Todd Boehly. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid and Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly optimistic that Bukayo Saka will be fit for their imminent clashes with Atalanta BC and Manchester City after being forced off against Tottenham Hotspur. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Back at Europe's elite level after a six-decade wait, Bologna welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to Stadio Dall'Ara on Wednesday, when they get their Champions League campaign under way. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stoke City have announced that they have parted ways with head coach Steven Schumacher. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On a mission to win their first-ever major honour, Brighton & Hove Albion will welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to The Amex for a third-round clash in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona return to action on Thursday evening when they square off against Monaco in their opening fixture of this season's Champions League. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal return to action on Thursday evening when they commence their Champions League campaign with a showdown against the 2023-24 Europa League winners Atalanta BC. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur could be set to hand a full competitive debut to 18-year-old Archie Gray as they visit Coventry City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.