Preview: Partizan vs. AEK Larnaca - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side head into the game on a run of four consecutive outings without a win across all competitions and will be looking to end this dry spell and overturn their first-leg deficit.

Match preview

Partizan were denied a dream start to their quest for a place in the Europa League as they fell to a 2-1 defeat away to AEK Larnaca in the first leg of the third round of qualifiers.

After going ahead through Queensy Menig's 18th-minute strike, Angel Garcia restored parity for the hosts 16 minutes later before Hrvoje Milicevic struck in the 70th minute to complete the comeback.

Prior to that, the Serbian outfit suffered a slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of Novi Pazar when the sides squared off in the Super Liga on July 29.

Ilija Stolica's men have now failed to win any of their last four games across all competitions, picking up two draws and losing twice since a 4-0 league thrashing of Javor Ivanjica on July 9.

However, Partizan will fancy their chances of turning things around on Thursday as they take on the Cyprus-based side on their home turf, where they are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run, claiming seven wins and two draws since March's 5-2 loss to Feyenoord.

AEK Larnaca, meanwhile, will be looking to avoid an early exit from the Europa League qualifiers after they were dumped out of the race for a Champions League spot by Midtjylland.

After playing out 1-1 draws in both home and away fixtures, the Danish outfit progressed through to the next round on penalties, edging out the Cyprus outfit 4-3 in a nervy shoot out on July 26.

Prior to last week's victory over Thursday's hosts, AEK Larnaca were on a run of four consecutive games without a win across all competitions, picking up three draws and losing once.

Jose Luis Oltra's men, who secured a second-placed finish in the First Division last season, kick off their 2022-23 domestic campaign with a home clash against Doxa Katokopias on August 27.

Partizan Europa League form:

Partizan form (all competitions):

AEK Larnaca Europa League form:

AEK Larnaca form (all competitions):

Team News

Partizan will take to the pitch without the services of 25-year-old midfielder Danilo Pantic, who has been out of action since January through an ACL injury.

He is joined on the Crno-beli's injury table by Serbian youngster Nemanja Jovic, who has missed the last seven games after picking up a knee problem against CFR Cluj on June 25.

Meanwhile, AEK Larnaca will make do with the absence of 23-year-old Andreas Paraskevas, who has been sidelined through a cruciate ligament injury.

Off the back of a solid first-leg display, Oltra could name a similar side on Tuesday, meaning we could see an unchanged back four of Roberto Rosales, Milicevic, Nenad Tomovic and former Real Valladolid fuck-back Garcia.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Ivan Trickovski, who netted 15 goals in the league last season, should lead the attack once again, alongside 23-year-old Imad Faraj and Nigerian forward Victor Olatunji.

Partizan possible starting lineup:

Stevanovic; Filipovic, Vujacic, Sanicanin, Urosevic; Fejsa, Natcho, Andrade; Diabate, Gomes, Menig

AEK Larnaca possible starting lineup:

Piric; Rosales, Milicevic, Tomovic, Garcia; Oier, Ledes; Faraj, Trickovski, Gyurcso; Olatunji

We say: Partizan 2-0 AEK Larnaca

Partizan have been near-impenetrable on their home turf in recent weeks, claiming eight wins and two draws from their last 10 games. We are tipping them to turn this tie around in front of their home crowd against an opposing side who have managed just two wins in their last seven games on the road.

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