Battling for a spot in the next stage of Europa League qualifying, Borac Banja Luka and KI Klaksvik will clash at Gradski Stadion on Thursday night for their second-leg meeting.
The Red and Blues are chasing a one-goal deficit following a tight first leg, whilst KI will be looking to be defensively solid on the road and book their place in the playoff round.
Match preview
© Imago
Borac Banja Luka are one game away from dropping into the Conference League qualifying rounds following a first-leg defeat against Klaksvik in the Faroe Islands on August 8, when a 33th-minute red card for Sebastian Herrera made the visitors' challenge last week a lot sterner.
Mark Jensen netted an own goal to hand the Bosnians a lifeline in the first-leg clash, but the Red and Blues came away from their outing lacking a positive result, with first-half strikes from Pall Klettskard and Kristoffer Odemarksbakken winning the fixture for the hosts.
Out of five matches played across the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League this season, Borac Banja have only tasted victory on the single occasion on July 10, when an added-time winner from Damir Hrelja secured a narrow success over Albanian minnows Egnatia.
Due to their exploits on the continent this summer, the Red and Blues' first two Bosnian Premier League against Velez Mostar and Igman Konjic have been postponed to a later date, but Mladen Zizovic's troops will commence their domestic campaign with the hosting of Sloboda Tuzla on Sunday night.
Borac Banja picked up their third-ever Bosnian crown at the conclusion of a success-laden 2023-24 campaign, with Thursday's hosts finishing just two points ahead of second-placed Zrinjski Mostar at the end of a thrilling title race in the division.
![Odmar Faero of Klaksvik during the UEFA Champions League football match between Malmo FF and Klaksvik on July 23, 2024 [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/odmar-faero.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Odmar Faero of Klaksvik during the UEFA Champions League football match between Malmo FF and Klaksvik on July 23, 2024 [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
Unlike Thursday's opponents Borac, Klaksvik are well in the swing of their domestic action, securing their 14th win of the Faroe Islands Premier League season with a comeback victory over whipping boys Fuglafjordur, who are yet to record maximum points in the 2024 term.
KI dropped into Europa League contention following a two-legged defeat to Swedish giants Malmo during the second round of Champions League qualifying, although a 3-2 second-leg victory over Henrik Rydstrom's charges kick-started a four-game winning run across all competitions.
Having lifted the trophy of their domestic league in each of the last three years, Klaksvik are at serious risk of relinquishing the first-tier crown of the Faroe Islands despite collecting 42 points from 18 league matches to date, sitting nine points behind leaders Vikingur, who have dropped just three points all term.
Making the net ripple on five occasions during four Champions League qualifiers so far this summer, Arni Frederiksberg is the main goalscoring threat for Thursday's visitors and will be keen to fire his side towards the Europa League proper phase.
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Team News
![Banja Luka(Bosnia) national cup final men s football David Vukovic FK Borac Banja Luka, 23/05/2024 [on July 20, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/david-vukovic.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Banja Luka(Bosnia) national cup final men s football David Vukovic FK Borac Banja Luka, 23/05/2024 [on July 20, 2024]")
© Imago
After receiving his marching orders during the first-leg defeat in the Faroe Islands, left-back Herrera will be unavailable for Borac Banja on Thursday night.
As a result, the Red and Blues will need to come up with a solution on the left side of their backline, with Marko Vukcevic likely to operate in that particular role.
Despite scoring an own goal last time out in the Europa League, Jensen is set to maintain his spot in between the sticks ahead of second-choice stopper Ari Petersen.
Scoring off the bench on the weekend, Joseph Williams could have a similar impact during the closing stages of the second leg at Gradski Stadion.
Borac Banja Luka possible starting lineup:
Siskovski; Kvrzic, Meijers, Carolina, Vukcevic; Grahovac, Skorup, Kulasin, Savic, Sreckovic; Lukic
KI Klaksvik possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Petersen, Yambere, Berntsson; Danielsen, Joensen, Hansson, Da Silva; Frederiksberg, Odemarksbaken, Klettskard
We say: Borac Banja Luka 2-0 KI Klaksvik (Borac Banja Luka win 3-2 on aggregate)
Yet to commence their domestic campaign in 2024-25, Borac Banja were off the pace last week but should be able to turnaround this tie on Thursday night.
Klaksvik are in a good vein of form, but they are set to struggle on the road in front of a hostile home crowd at the Gradski Stadion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
