Preview: Puskas Academy vs. Vitoria de Guimaraes - prediction, team news, lineups

The Portuguese visitors take a comfortable 3-0 lead to the Pancho Arena, with the winners of this tie facing Croatian outfit Hajduk Split in the next round.

Match preview

Puskas Academy, a club founded in 2005 to commemorate Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas, will be competing in the top flight for the sixth successive season in 2022-23.

The Felcsut-based outfit followed up a second-place finish in 2020-21 by finishing third last season, 17 points behind eventual champions Ferencvaros.

Nevertheless, Zsolt Hornyak's side did enough to secure their place in the Europa Conference League qualifiers for the second successive year, having been eliminated in the second qualifying round last season by Rigis Futbola Skola.

Puskas Academy, who lost two of their three pre-season friendlies before last week's first-leg defeat to Vitoria, may struggle to overturn a three-goal deficit on Thursday, but Hornyak will at least be hoping that his side give a good account of themselves on home soil.

After missing out on European competition in each of the last two seasons, Vitoria de Guimaraes have moved one step closer to securing a place in the Europa Conference League group stage following their comfortable 3-0 first-leg win over Puskas last week.

First-half strikes from Ruben Lameiras and Tiago Silva were followed by a 65th-minute goal from summer signing Anderson Silva, with Moreno's men now in the driving seat to progress.

The Conquerors quickly bounced back from their 2-1 friendly defeat against Portuguese giants Porto, and they will be confident of securing another victory on Thursday ahead of their Primera Liga opener away at Chaves next month.

Vitoria, who are celebrating their 100-year anniversary, followed up successive seventh-place finishes in the Primera Liga by ending the 2021-22 campaign in sixth. The Conquerors are now hoping to claim at least at top five-finish this term for the first time in five years as well as embark on a journey in European competition.

Puskas Academy Europa Conference League form:

Puskas Academy form (all competitions):

Vitoria de Guimaraes Europa Conference League form:

Vitoria de Guimaraes form (all competitions):

Team News

Puskas Academy boss Hornyak is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to the starting lineup he named for the first leg.

Key attacker Alexandru Baluta, who was the club's top scorer with seven goals last season, could operate in a central role alongside wingers Luciano Slagveer and Lamin Colley, while Yoell van Nieff could continue in his defensive midfield role in front of the back four.

After coming off the bench to score Vitoria's third goal last week, Anderson Silva will be hoping to force his way into the first XI on Thursday ahead of namesakes Andre Silva or Joao Pedro Silva.

A back four of Maga, Jorge Fernandes, Abdul Mumin and Ryoya Ogawa is set to remain intact, shielding goalkeeper Bruno Varela.

Midfielder Matheus Indio and centre-back Mikel Villanueva, who have both joined Vitoria on permanent deals this summer, did not feature in the first leg but will be hoping to get some minutes under their belts on Thursday.

Puskas Academy possible starting lineup:

Markek; Szolnoki, Stronati, Spandler, Nagy; Mezghrani, Van Nieff, Kiss; Colley, Baluta, Slagveer

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Valera; Maga, Fernandes, Mumin, Ogawa; T. Silva, Semedo, Almeida; J. Silva, Anderson, Lameiras

We say: Puskas Academy 0-2 Vitoria de Guimaraes (Vitoria de Guimaraes to win 5-0 on aggregate)

After easing to victory in the first leg, Vitoria de Guimaraes are the strong favourites to come out on top in the reverse fixture and progress to the next round.

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