UEFA Europa Conference League Preview: Linfield -v- Borac Banja Luka

LINFIELD

Northern Irish Premiership champions Linfield host FK Borac Banja Luka of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League tie (kick-off 7.45pm).

This second qualifying round comes one week after both sides were eliminated from their respective Champions League qualifiers, now they aim to progress in the new tournament.

The Blues will be out to make amends for the 1-5 aggregate defeat to Zalgiris Vilnius in Champions League qualification over the last fortnight.

Despite an emphatic margin of victory for the Lithuanians over two legs, the main difference was their sharpness and finishing, the latter displayed in abundance in Belfast.

David Healy’s team are in something of a transition at present, having lost several first team players over the close season, with new faces bedding in and a couple still to arrive.

Striker Billy Chadwick and winger Ahmed Salam, both 21, are set to feature after signing on loan from Hull City.

Fellow new arrival Sam Roscoe featured in last weekend’s friendly defeat to Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City.

Former Dundalk icon Chris Shields impressed in his home debut for Linfield last week, including a successful penalty conversion and will retain his place in the team.

“We are looking forward to it, it’s another opportunity and another challenge,” Healy told the club’s official website.

“I’ve seen the two games Borac played against Cluj in the Champions League and it shows you the quality of opposition we are facing.

“Normally, Borac would have won on away goals (before extratime) and been through to the next round of the Champions League, but away goals don’t count this year."

“Speaking to the players, they are excited about this game and they should be. We’re at home and we want to give a good showing of ourselves.”      

BORAC BANJA LUKA

FK Borac (meaning ‘fighter’) are based in the second city of Bosnia, Banja Luka - which is also the de-facto capital of Republika Srpska, one of the two political entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They came very close to claiming a significant scalp against Cluj in the Champions League qualifiers last week, but the Romanian champions prevailed, courtesy of a late winner in extra-time.

In the process, Borac became the first ‘victims’ of the abolition of the away goals rule. A 3-1 first leg defeat was followed up by a 2-0 win in Banja Luka last week but the new regulations saw an additional 30 minutes played.#

“Linfield are dominant in their championship, they have a good set-up and they play at the national stadium,” Borac head coach Marko Maksimovi? said.

“They are a typical island team that plays well in the transition. They are very strong physically, but I think that in this duel we have something to hope for.”

The visitors will welcome back goalkeeper Bojan Pavlovi?. Captain Stojan Vranješ will be ready for the clash, as will central defender Marko Jovanovi?.

Referee: Kaarlo Oskari Hämäläinen (FIN)

BETTING

Linfield 7/2; Draw 13/5; Borac 8/13.

PREDICTION

Linfield 1 Borac 2

Linfield

Injured: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

Suspended: None.

Borac Banja Luka

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.