- NK Varaždin are on a 3-game winning run and can still get through on away goals after a 1st-leg loss.
- Jablonec are on a run of just 1 win and 4 defeats in their last 5 games.
Two teams, two very different styles
Jablonec have won the first leg of this UEFA Conference League qualifier 3-2 away, but NK Varaždin come into the second leg with the better form and momentum for Thursday's clash at Stadion Strelnice, Czechia.
Lubos Kozel, who has been in charge of the hosts since July 2024, has tended to set his team up in either a 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 formation with the wing-backs going forward to play a compact, centre-first game where they try to nick control in the middle of the park and then strike through the wing-backs, turnovers or set pieces.
Nikola Safaric, who has been in the Varaždin hot seat since December 2023, has set his players up to be more direct and transition-heavy, relying on quick vertical balls and a pressing midfield to get at teams when they are in possession.
This should make for a chess match between the structure of Jablonec and Varaždin's speed in the channels.
Visitors have the momentum
Varaždin are more of a cohesive unit at the moment with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in their last 5 matches and a run of 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats across their past 10 in all competitions.
Jablonec have struggled in all of their competitions with 2 wins, 1 draw and 7 defeats in their previous 10 matches and it is hard to see a way for them to get through in this second leg.
Martin Cedidla, who has scored 1 goal in 1 appearance in UEFA Conference League qualification, is the main spark for Jablonec, but they do have an extra bit of a spark with Nemanja Tekijaski netting 2 goals in their last 5 fixtures and providing a threat from set pieces.
Luka Mamic has been the hot hand for Varaždin, netting 3 of the club's last 9 goals in 5 fixtures, but Iuri Tavares, who has 1 goal in 1 UEFA Conference League qualification match, is the Croatian side's leading goal threat.
Best value lies with Varaždin
The odds here don't add up with Jablonec 1.71, Varaždin 4.52 and the draw 4.2 - a lot of the money has come down on the home side.
Over 2.5 goals at 1.62 and both teams to score at 1.65 seem like solid wagers on the game being exciting rather than cagey, but Varaždin will be looking to nick the tie and they seem capable of doing so given their great form.
