Borac Banja Luka and Omonia meet on the sixth and final matchday of the league phase of the Conference League on Thursday night.
Just one place separates the two, with Borac in 20th and Omonia in 21st, so any slip ups will be fatal for a losing team here.
Match preview
![Sebastian Herera of Borac Banja Luka during the UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round, 2nd leg football match between Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and PAOK Thessaloniki on July 31, 2024 [on August 20, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/34/sebastian-herera.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Sebastian Herera of Borac Banja Luka during the UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round, 2nd leg football match between Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and PAOK Thessaloniki on July 31, 2024 [on August 20, 2024]")
© Imago
Borac, in their first ever appearance at this stage of a European competition, have the chance this week to make Bosnian football history.
No club from the nation has ever progressed past the group stages of a major UEFA competition, but they are in the driving seat to finish in the top 24.
Despite losing 3-0 at Shamrock Rovers on matchday five, Mladen Zizovic's men remain three points clear of 25th, knowing that a point will be enough to see them progress.
Borac also disappointingly fell to defeat away to Vikingur, but here at home is where they have performed best, taking four points off Panathinaikos and LASK Linz.
The hosts will come into this game on the back of a win too, after beating Sloboda 3-2 at the weekend, closing the gap to Zrinjski at the top of the Bosnian top flight to three points.
That is that for Bosnian domestic football until February, so Zizovic will hope his players can end 2024 in memorable fashion here with a famous result.
Cypriot side Omonia come into this finale one point and one place behind Borac, knowing they may need a win, otherwise they will be relying on the results of others.
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In their first ever meeting with a Bosnian side, it could be the day where they finally get over the line and reach the knockouts of a UEFA competition after three previous failed attempts.
Prospects did not look great heading into matchday five, but a shock 3-1 win over Rapid Vienna has catapulted them into knockout contention.
Giannis Anastasiou's men had lost three in a row without conceding against Hearts, Gent and Legia Warsaw, but a win over Vikingur on matchday one has now proven much more important than it first appeared.
A point could also be enough for them, but seven teams sit two points back just outside the top 24, so there will be a nervy wait and many eyes on other results to see if it would see them through.
Omonia have not made the best preparation for this trip, falling to a surprise 1-0 defeat at Achna on Sunday, falling 11 points off the summit in Cyprus.
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Team News
![Coach of Borac Banja Luka, Mladen Zizovic, during a press conference on July 23, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/35/mladen-zizovic.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Coach of Borac Banja Luka, Mladen Zizovic, during a press conference on July 23, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]")
© Imago
Former number one Nikola Cetkovic remains out for Borac with the serious knee injury that has kept him sidelined for over a year now, so Filip Manojlovic should continue between the sticks.
Djordje Despotovic is the only Borac player with more than one goal in the league phase so far, and he comes into this one full of confidence, after scoring twice in the win over Sloboda at the weekend.
Omonia's Mateo Maric will not return to his homeland, as the former Siroki Brijeg man is suspended, with Ukrainian Roman Bezus also on the sidelines at present.
Stevan Jovetic is the star name in the squad, and the winner of this competition last season with Olympiacos has returned from injury this week, and should start.
There is also a choice for Anastasiou to make in goal, because Francis Uzoho replaced usual number one Fabiano in their last European outing, and could get the nod again after the win over Rapid.
Borac Banja Luka possible starting lineup:
Manojlovic; Vukcevic, Meijers, Carolina, Herrera; Grahovac, Ogrinec, Skorup; Kulasin, Despotovic, Savic
Omonia possible starting lineup:
Uzoho; Dionkou, Coulibaly, Helander, Khammas; Charalampous, Kousoulos; Simic, Jovetic, Loizou; Kakoulis
We say: Borac Banja Luka 1-2 Omonia
In such a big game for both sides, Omonia's European experience and individual quality could just get them over the line to secure a spot in the top 24.
Borac will have a lot of pressure on them knowing they could become the first Bosnian side to reach a European knockout stage, and a lack of goals across the league phase could be costly.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
