LASK Linz and Zrinjski Mostar square off in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie on Thursday.

While the Austrian hosts are used to competing in the group stages of continental competition, the Bosnian visitors are looking to record one of the biggest achievements in their history having never reached that phase.

Match preview

Having not been required to start their European campaign until this stage, LASK Linz have been focused on domestic action in recent weeks.

Last season's third-placed side will not be satisfied with their opening to the new Austrian Bundesliga campaign, prevailing in just one of their four fixtures.

A total of five points have been accumulated - their only success coming against bottom of the league - and Thomas Sageder's team already sit seven points adrift of leaders Red Bull Salzburg.

Sageder will hope that turning their attention to this competition will lead to an upturn in performances, with LASK keen to build on their last-16 appearance in the Europa Conference League in 2021-22.

LASK had put together an 11-match undefeated streak in that season's competition before losing 4-1 to Slavia Prague, but they are yet to show that they are capable of going deep in a continental tournament this time around.

From Zrinjski's perspective, they may feel like they have already achieved their goal for the season, one which they may have initially felt was realistically out of their reach.

Although they lost out in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, a tie with Icelandic side Breidablik opened the door for two shots at reaching the group-stage of a European tournament for the first time.

There were few nerves on show when they won the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie by a 6-2 scoreline, with Krunoslav Rendulic's side getting over the line in the second game.

Zrinjski already know that they will participate in the Europa Conference League group stages even if they lose out, as expected, to LASK over two legs.

Nevertheless, having gotten their domestic campaign up and running with a victory at the weekend, Rendulic will back his team to upset the odds ahead of their visit to the Raiffeisen Arena.

Team News

Having had to battle back from behind to earn a share of the spoils against WSG Tirol, it would not come as a surprise if Sageder made changes to his LASK starting lineup.

Elias Havel is in line to feature down the middle of the attack having scored his side's equaliser, with Marin Ljubicic now in line to drop down to the substitutes' bench.

Florian Flecker is an option on the right flank, while Felix Luckeneder will come into contention if Sageder opts to switch to a three-player backline.

The Zrinjski side named by Rendulic was much changed from the one which started the dominant first leg against Breidablik, and the assumption is that he will revert back to the majority of that team.

Nemanja Bilbija was one of the players to retain his place, with the forward netting a double during a 3-1 victory over GOSK Gabela.

LASK Linz possible starting lineup:
Lawal; Stojkovic, Ziereis, Andrade, Bello; Michorl, Horvath; Usor, Zulj, Mustapha; Ljubicic

Zrinjski Mostar possible starting lineup:
Maric; Corluka, Jakovljevic, Barisic, Ticnovic; Ivancic, Kis, Canadija; Malekinusic, Bilbjia, Cuze

We say: LASK Linz 2-0 Zrinjski Mostar

While Zrinjski have been riding a crest of a wave for a number of weeks, this may be a step up too far. LASK will recognise that they may not have it all their own way, yet they will expect to established a lead ahead of the reverse fixture.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Darren Plant

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