Conference League | League Stage

Dec 19, 2024 at 8pm UK

Gradski Stadion

Borac Banja Lukavs.Omonia

Match preview

Borac, making their first appearance at this stage of European competition, have the chance to make Bosnian football history this week.

No Bosnian club has ever progressed beyond the group stage of a major UEFA competition, but they are in with a chance of finishing in the top 24.

Despite a 3-0 defeat at Shamrock Rovers on matchday five, Mladen Zizovic's men remain three points clear of 25th place and know that a point is all they need to progress.

Borac also suffered a disappointing defeat away to Vikingur, but have performed best at home, taking four points from Panathinaikos and LASK Linz.

The hosts will also be coming into the game on the back of a 3-2 win over Sloboda at the weekend, which moved them three points clear of Zrinjski at the top of the Bosnian top flight.

That is all for Bosnian domestic football until February, so Zizovic will be hoping his players can end 2024 on a high note.

Cypriot side Omonia go into the final a point and a place behind Borac and will be desperate for a win if they are to avoid relying on the results of others.

In their first-ever meeting with a Bosnian side, this could be the day they finally get over the line and reach the knockout stages of a UEFA competition after three previous failed attempts.

Their prospects looked bleak going into matchday five, but a shock 3-1 win over Rapid Vienna has propelled them into knockout contention.

Giannis Anastasiou's men had lost three successive games to Hearts, Gent and Legia Warsaw without conceding a goal, but a win over Vikingur on the opening day proved far more important than it first appeared.

A point could be enough for them, but with seven teams two points adrift of the top 24, there will be a nervous wait and a lot of eyes on other results to see if it will get them through.

Omonia have not had the best preparation for this trip and suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Achna on Sunday, leaving them 11 points adrift of the Cypriot summit.

Recent Performance

Borac Banja Luka Conference League form:DWLWL

Borac Banja Luka form (all competitions):WWWLLW

Omonia Conference League form:LWLLLW

Omonia form (all competitions):WLWDWL

Team News

Borac's former number one Nikola Cetkovic remains sidelined with a serious knee injury that has sidelined him for over a year, so Filip Manojlovic should continue between the sticks.

Djordje Despotovic is the only Borac player to have scored more than one goal in the league so far, and he will go into this game full of confidence after scoring twice in the win over Sloboda at the weekend.

Omonia's Mateo Maric will not return to his homeland as the former Siroki Brijeg man is suspended, while Ukrainian Roman Bezus is also currently on the sidelines.

Stevan Jovetic is the star name in the squad and the winner of this competition last season with Olympiacos returned from injury this week and should start.

Anastasiou will also have a choice of goalkeepers, with Francis Uzoho deputising for first-choice Fabiano in their last European outing, and could return after the win over Rapid.

Possible starting lineup

Borac Banja Luka possible starting lineup:

Manojlovic; Vukcevic, Meijers, Carolina, Herrera; Grahovac, Ogrinec, Skorup; Kulasin, Despotovic, Savic

Omonia possible starting lineup:

Uzoho; Dionkou, Coulibaly, Helander, Khammas; Charalampous, Kousoulos; Simic, Jovetic, Loizou; Kakoulis