Legia Warsaw can secure an automatic last-16 place in the Conference League if they beat Djurgardens IF at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm on Thursday night.
The visitors are guaranteed at least a last-16 playoff spot, as are their Swedish counterparts who will endeavour to leapfrog the Poles and seal a top-eight finish.
Match preview
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After narrowly missing out on securing European football for next season, finishing the 2024 Swedish Allsvenskan in fourth place, Djurgarden are now keen to make the most of their current Conference League campaign and remain in the mix to secure an automatic spot in the last 16.
The Iron stoves have accumulated 10 points from their five matches in the League Phase, winning each of their last three games against Panathinaikos (2-1), The New Saints (1-0) and Vikingur Reykjavik (2-1), beating the latter last week despite playing the final 15 minutes with 10 men.
Bidding to reach the knockout rounds of a major European competition in the 21st century for just the second time, Roberth Bjorknesjo's side currently sit 11th in the 36-team table - one of four teams level on points with Cercle Brugge in seventh spot - and know that victory on Thursday would give them a strong chance of advancing straight through to the last 16.
Djurgarden will welcome a return to the Tele2 Arena where they have won each of their last three competitive home matches, although they did suffer a 3-0 friendly defeat to Elfsborg the last time that they played in front of their own fans on November 22.
The Iron Stoves will fancy their chances of making the net ripple on home soil, as they have scored in 12 of their 13 home matches in the Conference League (including qualifiers), netting at least twice in eight of those.
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Legia Warsaw have arguably been one of the surprise packages in the Conference League this term, as they sit fourth in the 36-team table after picking up 12 points from five matches in the League Phase.
The Militarians won each of their first four fixtures against Real Betis, Backa Topola, Dinamo Minsk and Omonia Nicosia by an aggregate score of 11-0, before suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Lugano on matchday five last week.
Nevertheless, Legia Warsaw - managed by 34-year-old Goncalo Feio - have put themselves in a strong position to progress straight through to the last 16; a win would guarantee that, while they could still secure a top-eight finish even if they were to draw or lose against Djurgarden, depending on results elsewhere.
Legia Warsaw have not been in action since losing to Lugano, and prior to that, they put together a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including a 3-0 away win over Zaglebie Lubin. That result helped them to climb up to fourth in the Polish Ekstraklasa standings and to within three points of the European spots.
The Militarians travel to Sweden on Thursday boasting an impressive away record, as they have won 10, drawn four and lost just two of their 16 matches on the road in all competitions this season, winning three of their last four by a 3-0 scoreline.
Team News
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Djurgarden will be without Piotr Johansson as he continues to recover from a long-term knee injury, while fellow defender Miro Tenho is suspended after being sent off in the win over Vikingur Reykjavik last time out.
Thirty-nine-year-old club legend Haris Radetinac will end his 12-year association with the club and make his 304th and final appearance on Thursday, although it remains to be seen whether the attacker - who has just one goal in 26 games to his name this term - will be handed a start.
Top scorer Deniz Hummet is the man expected to lead the line having scored 18 times in 36 matches this term, while Gustav Wikheim and Tokmac Nguen could provide support from the flanks.
As for Legia Warsaw, Kacper Tobiasz (arm), Ruben Vinagre (ankle ligament), Maxi Oyedele (ankle), Jan Leszcynski, Juergen Elitim (both knee) and Rafal Augustyniak (unknown) are all sidelined with injuries.
Defender Radovan Pankov is also ruled out as he is suspended after being sent off in the defeat to Lugano, so Sergio Barcia or Jan Ziolkowski could start at centre-back alongside Steve Kapuadi.
Marc Gual, the club's top scorer this term with 12 goals, has contributed to five goals (two goals, three assists) in his last three Conference League games and is expected to lead the line for the visitors.
Djurgardens IF possible starting lineup:
Rinne; Stahl, Larsson, Danielsson, Kosugi; Stensson, Sabovic; Wikheim, Gulliksen, Nguen; Hummet
Legia Warsaw possible starting lineup:
Kobylak; Wszolek, Garcia, Kapuadi, Kun; Kapustka, Celhaka, Morishita; Chodyna, Guol, Luquinhas
We say: Djurgardens IF 1-1 Legia Warsaw
A closely-fought contest between two teams who will fancy their chances of success is set to be played out on Thursday. Djurgarden need to win if they are to realistically be in with a chance of securing a top-eight finish, but we feel that Legia Warsaw will claim at least a share of the spoils on this occasion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
