With a place in the Conference League quarter-finals up for grabs, Rapid Vienna will welcome Borac Banja Luka to Allianz Stadion on Thursday in the second leg of their round of 16 matchup.
The two sides played out a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg on March 6, though Thursday’s visitors were fortunate that David Vukovic was able to score a stoppage-time penalty in the second half to cancel out Dion Drena Beljo‘s first-half opener.
Match preview
© Imago
Rapid Vienna were arguably unfortunate to not take a first-leg lead considering they created three big chances while only facing one themselves.
The hosts have opened the scoring in six of their last seven matches in the Conference League, and have also only conceded once at home in their past five in the competition.
Head coach Robert Klauss could make history should his side advance as he would become the first coach to guide the team to the quarter-finals of a major European competition since Ernst Dokupil led the club to the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1995-96 season.
The Green-Whites come into Thursday’s clash on the back of four defeats in six – with just one victory in that time – and their tally of 31 points in the Austrian Bundesliga is 12 fewer than league-leaders Sturm Graz.
Rapid Vienna have won two of their past three games at home but have been beaten in two of their most recent five, drawing on one occasion.
© Imago
As for the visitors, they only produced one shot on target in the second half other than their stoppage-time penalty, and they will no doubt be concerned that they generated just over 0.5 non-penalty xG.
However, the goal that Borac Banja Luka conceded was only their first in four Conference League outings, though they found the back of the net just once in those three games.
Boss Mladen Zizovic will be aware that his side have only ever won three of their 15 away fixtures in UEFA’s main three club competitions, and they have only won one of their seven away games in the Conference League.
The Red-Blues’ form of late has been excellent, with the club unbeaten in their 10 most recent outings, emerging victorious six times.
Borac Banja Luka’s overall record on the road is strong considering they have won 10, drawn three and lost just one of their last 14 away from home.
Team News
© Imago
Rapid Vienna are likely to start Nenad Cvetkovic and Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao in central defence ahead of goalkeeper Niklas Hedl.
In midfield, Klauss could start a double pivot consisting of Mamadou Sangare and Lukas Grgic given the duo played together in the first leg.
Forwards Andrija Radulovic, Louis Schaub and Nikolaus Wurmbrand may be trusted to support striker Dion Drena Beljo.
Visitors Borac Banja Luka will almost certainly station wingers Enver Kulasin and David Vukovic either side of striker Dorde Despotovic.
Midfielders Sandi Ogrinec, Boban Nikolov and Stefan Savic could feature ahead of centre-backs Bart Meijers and Jurich Carolina.
Rapid Vienna possible starting lineup:
Hedl; Bolla, Cvetkovic, Raux-Yao, Auer; Sangare, Grgic; Radulovic, Schaub, Wurmbrand; Beljo
Borac Banja Luka possible starting lineup:
Manojlovic; Kvrzic, Meijers, Carolina, Rogan; Ogrinec, Nikolov, Savic; Kulasin, Despotovic, Vukovic
We say: Rapid Vienna 1-0 Borac Banja Luka (Rapid Vienna win 2-1 on aggregate)
Rapid Vienna are unlikely to create many chances given Borac Banja Luka have proven difficult to break down in recent weeks.
However, the hosts were unfortunate to not take a first-leg lead last Thursday, and they should be expected to advance should they perform similarly in the second leg.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
