Preview: Slovan Bratislava vs. Basel - prediction, team news, lineups

After a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first leg last Thursday, both sides know a win in this game will take them into the quarter-finals of the competition next month.

Match preview

Slovan Bratislava have the home advantage for a crucial clash on Thursday after managing to return from Switzerland with a respectable draw last week - a game in which the visitors had to come back from behind twice in.

Jurij Medvedev and Malik Abubakari grabbed the goals for the Slovakian outfit at St Jakob-Park during an evenly-contested match, although the visitors did have chances to take the victory late on.

Bratislava were in action on the weekend in the Super Liga, losing 1-0 at home to Zilia, meaning they are now even less likely to retain the Slovakian league title as DAC Dunajska Streda lead the way.

Second place domestically would only reward Vladimir Weiss's side with Conference League qualifying for next season, so Bratislava know winning this year's edition could be their most-probable pathway into the Europa League.

Basel had the majority of possession and chances last Thursday against their Slovakian visitors, but they were unable to take an advantage ahead of a second-leg trip to Bratislava.

First-half goals from Zeki Amdouni and Andi Zeqiri put the Swiss side ahead on two occasions, although on both instances they were unable to hold on for the win in front of 14,000 home supporters.

Like Slovan, Basel were in domestic action on Sunday afternoon, drawing 1-1 with Europe-chasing St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League, with Heiko Vogel's men sitting three points outside the top four in the league standings.

Basel are unbeaten in their last three away fixtures across all competitions, but their most recent defeat came on the road in the Conference League - a 1-0 loss at Turkish outfit Trabzonspor last month.

Slovan Bratislava Europa Conference League form:

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Basel Europa Conference League form:

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Basel form (all competitions):

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Team News

Bratislava boss Weiss is expected to make several changes to the side that lost against Zilina on the weekend, with wingers Giorgi Chakvetadze and Aleksandar Cavric likely to be restored to the XI.

Slovakia's fifth most-capped player Juraj Kucka will partner 22-year-old Filip Lichy in the hosts' defensive midfield - one which will need to be on top form to protect Bratislava's backline.

Basel's Dan Ndoye operated as a wing-back in the draw against St. Gallen on Sunday but should be in a more advanced position on Thursday, leading the attack alongside Zeqiri and Amdouni.

The visitors will travel to Slovakia without Fabian Frei, with the centre-back currently sidelined due to a back injury sustained last week.

Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:

Chovan; Medvedev; Kashia, De Marco, Lovat; Kucka, Lichy, Cavric, Weiss, Chakvetadze; Abubakari

Basel possible starting lineup:

Hitz; Lang, Pelmard, Calafiori; Novoa, Xhaka, Burger, Kade; Ndoye, Amdouni, Zeqiri

We say: Slovan Bratislava 2-1 Basel

Slovan Bratislava showed their powers of recovery in the first leg by coming back from behind twice, something that may give them the psychological advantage in this week's clash.

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