Can the Bosnians turn the tide?
Borac were beaten 2-1 by Banja Luka in the Faroe Islands last Thursday. If Banja Luka’s home win against Klaksvik does not work out, the Bosnian champions will be relegated to the Conference League play-offs. The winner of this duel, on the other hand, would advance to the Europa League playoffs and would then be guaranteed a place in the Conference League group stage even if they lose to either Midtjylland or Ferencvaros.
This would be the Faroe Islands’ second consecutive appearance in the preliminary round of Europe’s third most important competition for club teams. The first-leg win for Banja Luka against Klaksvik means that many experts are predicting that the supposed soccer dwarf from the Faroe Islands will come out on top. In purely nominal terms, however, the Bosnians, who were outnumbered for an hour in the first leg, are in a better position
KI Klaksvik already scored a coup in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA competitions last season. However, in view of the fact that the Faroese have not been overly convincing at national level and have not won away from home in eight competitive matches in Europe since a 3-0 win at Ferencvaros in the 2023/24 Champions League qualifiers (two draws, six defeats), we are still leaning towards the Bosnians.
The bet that Banja Luka will win this second leg in front of a home crowd and thus at least force extra time is correspondingly consistent. As the match tends to be rather hectic and high-scoring, risk-taking bettors could also back over 2.5 goals
Banja Luka – Statistics & current form
FK Borac Banja Luka was founded in 1926 and was a very successful club in the former Yugoslavia. In 1988, the Crveno-plavi (the red and blue) even won the Yugoslavian Cup as a second division team against Red Star Belgrade.
The club’s recent past can also be described as very successful. In 2023/24, the club based in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina won the national double. As national champions, they also made it back to the Champions League qualifiers for the first time in three years, but only managed to secure their ticket to the next round in a penalty shoot-out against Egnatia.
Can Banja Luka avoid the drop into the Conference League play-offs?
FK Borac Banja Luka had already suffered two defeats against Greek champions PAOK, and after a 2-1 loss in the Faroe Islands they will now have to be careful not to fall completely off the grid. Having been relegated from the Champions League qualifiers, they now face the threat of dropping into the Conference League play-offs.
However, the Bosnians can still turn things around. If the Crveno-plavi win at home against Klaksvik in Banja Luka, the players, who have been coached by Mladen Žižović since this summer, would at least force extra time.
Banja Luka could concentrate fully on Europe
In order to turn things around, FK Borac Banja Luka were given another game off by the Bosnian FA. The 3rd matchday in the Premijer Liga Bosne i Hercegovine would already be on the program this weekend. However, it would be Crveno-plavi’s very first appearance at national level in the new season.
As a result, it has to be said that they may still lack a certain amount of competitive hardness. However, having had a week to fully adapt to the Faroese, who are inferior on paper, is certainly no disadvantage. The only question that remains is how Mladen Žižović will change his team compared to the first leg, in which Sebastián Herrera was sent off after just half an hour. The 29-year-old will miss the second leg through suspension.
Predicted line-up for Banja Luka:
Siskovski – Carolina, Susic, Meijers, Kvrzic – Skorup, Grahovac – Sreckovic, Savic Kulasin – Lukic
Klaksvik – Statistics & current form
Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag has become the new figurehead of the Faroese Football Association. Last fall, the footballers from the northern islands secured the national championship title for the 21st time ahead of record winners HB Tórshavn.
Parallel to the championship, the blue-and-whites also made a big impression in the qualifying rounds for the European competitions a year ago. After defeating Ferencvaros Budapest and BK Häcken, among others, the Faroese team made it to the group stage of the Conference League for the first time in their history
90 minutes separate Klaksvik from another group stage
KI Klaksvik also had to learn the hard way internationally, losing all three away games in the group stage. Nevertheless, there were highlights such as the 3:0 home win over NK Olimpija Ljubljana. The soccer dwarf is now looking to build on this success, having knocked FC Differdingen 03 out of the competition in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers
However, Malmö FF were too big for the Blue & Whites last time out, but they would be assured of a return to the Conference League preliminary round if they finish the job in Bosnia and hold on to their 2:1 lead. But the bookmakers have their doubts. The odds of the top bookmakers speak very clearly against the Faroese in Banja Luka v Klaksvik
Klaksvik had a particularly difficult time away from home in Europe
Two points speak against the Faroese champions. Firstly, the club has fallen by the wayside at national level in 2024. After just 18 matchdays, they are already nine points behind leaders Víkingur and three points behind HB Tórshavn, meaning the defending champions are currently only third despite their successful dress rehearsal on Sunday (2:1 against bottom club ÍF Fuglafjördur).
And secondly, all the recent European successes were clearly down to home strength. After all, since a sensational 3-0 win at Ferencvaros, the Blue & Whites have not recorded a win in eight international away games (two draws, six defeats) and have scored just one goal in their last four away games…
Klaksvik’s probable line-up:
Jensen – Da Silva, Berntsson, Yambéré, Vatnsdal, Danielsen – Hansson, Joensen – Ödemarksbakken, Klettskard, Frederiksberg
Banja Luka – Klaksvik Direct comparison / H2H result
Head to head: 0 – 0 – 1
Last Thursday’s clash was the first and only meeting between the two teams in a competitive European match to date. Thanks to the narrow 2:1 home win in overtime, the Faroese currently lead the direct comparison against the Bosnians
Banja Luka – Klaksvik tip
The bookmakers are suggesting a turnaround for the Bosnians in the Europa League tips for Banja Luka v Klaksvik. Not only do the odds for the second leg favor the home team, but the Crveno-plavi are also considered to have very valid chances of qualifying for the playoffs after all and thus securing their first group stage in a European competition, as the loser would go directly to the Conference League preliminary round, in which the Faroese already made their first attempts last year
Experience may easily speak in favor of the Faroese, who may also act with a little less pressure. However, the club is currently somewhat removed from the thrilling soccer that the Blue & Whites played last season, which is why we believe the Bosnians can at least force extra time.
