Looking to take an advantage into next week’s final match, Djurgardens IF and Rapid Vienna will lock horns at 3Arena for the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final.
Jarnkaminerna have returned to domestic action in 2025 with mixed results, whilst the Green and Whites are currently struggling in the Austrian Bundesliga .
Match preview
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After playing for their quarter-final place in the Conference League throughout the harsh winter months on the continental stage, Djurgardens returned to Swedish Allsvenskan action to kick-start their fresh domestic campaign in late March, since collecting three points from two matches.
An opening-weekend defeat to Scandinavian giants Malmo certainly wounded a few of Jarnkaminerna persuasion, however Thursday night’s hosts enjoyed their maiden win of the top-tier term last time out on Saturday afternoon, when a second-half strike from Adam Stahl won the day at the base of Sirius.
Jani Honkavaara‘s troops booked their spot in the final eight of this season’s Conference League with a turnaround success over Pafos FC of Cyprus in the round of 16, with goals from Oskar Fallenius, Daniel Stensson and Tokmac Nguen securing a 3-0 triumph in the second leg at 3Arena following a narrow defeat during the first meeting.
Finding the net on 14 occasions across the 2024 Allsvenskan campaign, as well as six strikes in the Conference League this term, Deniz Hummet was the shining star in the Jarnkaminerna attack, however the Turkish attacker switched to Japanese outfit Gamba Osaka last month.
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Rapid Vienna’s hopes of making Europe next season via their respective domestic scene has taken a hit since returning from March’s international pause, with Thursday night’s visitors losing back-to-back contests in the Austrian Bundesliga against RB Salzburg and Sturm Graz.
The latest of those losses arrived at Merkur Arena on Friday night, when goals either side of the half-time whistle from William Boving and Leon Grgic securing maximum points for the hosts, who were competing in the League Phase of the Champions League at the beginning of this term.
With eight matches remaining of the Austrian Bundesliga term, Rapid Vienna are occupying fifth spot in the Championship Group, three points from fourth-placed Wolfsberger, who are sat in the Conference League playoff position at this stage.
The Green and Whites battled through a two-legged affair with Borac Banja Luka to reach this stage of the competition, winning the contest in the second leg, when goals from Dion Beljo and Louis Schaub knocked the Bosnian outfit out of the Conference League.
Team News
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Djurgardens are likely to be short on midfield options until the end of their participation in the Conference League, with Rasmus Schuller expected to be sidelined for the remainder of April with a thigh issue.
Jarnkaminerna are also without the services of reserve goalkeeper Malkolm Safqvist, who dislocated his elbow during the last-16 success over Pafos.
Rapid Vienna are running low on firepower at the top end of the pitch, with veteran forward Guido Burgstaller suffering a campaign-ending head injury in December.
The Green and Whites are also unable to call upon the talents of Nikolaus Wurmbrand, who picked up a hip injury near the conclusion of March.
Djurgardens IF possible starting lineup:
Rinne; Stahl, Tenho, Larsson, Kosugi; Stensson, Schuller, Aslund, Gulliksen, Fallenius; Nguen
Rapid Vienna possible starting lineup:
Hedl; Bolla, Yao, Cvetkovic; Oswald, Grgic, Sangare, Schaub; Beljo, Wurmbrand, Jansson
We say: Djurgardens IF 1-1 Rapid Vienna
Both enduring mixed form heading into this clash, we are expecting a close-fought affair between Djurgardens and Rapid Vienna on Thursday night.
With the second leg in the back of everyone’s minds, the pair could settle for a share of the honours at the 3Arena, setting up a winner-takes-all second leg in Austria.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
