- FK Borac Banjaluka are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions (7 wins, 3 draws) and have won 3 and drawn 1 of their last 4 home games.
- PFC Levski Sofia are also in fine form, going 5 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat from their last 10 in all competitions, but are unbeaten in 5 away from home (1 win, 4 draws).
- Under 2.5 goals at 3/5 seems to fit the match-up well with the two sides set up in starkly contrasting styles.
Lively Borac looking to hold the ball
Bulgaria's 2026 champions PFC Levski Sofia will be facing a tough test against FK Borac Banjaluka in what looks to be a tight Champions League qualifier on Tuesday. The visitors will be a touch more adventurous with the ball and in numbers, but the hosts are no shrinking violets in Bosnia and Herzegovina and could easily take the game to Levski if the mood suits them.
Head coach Vinko Marinovic has led Borac to 7 wins and 3 draws in their last 10 games, a run which includes a 1-0 home win over FK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo, a 0-0 away draw to Radnik Bijeljina and a 2-0 home victory against NK Posusje. There is little flair or flamboyance in Borac's game, but they are a solid, determined unit who can get the job done without much fanfare.
A rigid and compact defensive block, low-risk possession and the odd quick strike on the break or from a set-piece is how they tick and their recent results have been as clean as any sheet on the planet. Luka Juricic is their main threat, having scored 3 of Borac's 5 goals in their last 5 matches, and he will be the danger man that Levski must contain here.
Levski should be a handful on their day
Julio Velazquez, taking charge on 5 January 2025, has created a disciplined, proactive side which plays with a clear tactical blueprint. His side prefer the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 systems, where they can dominate the ball, move players into advantageous positions and overpower opponents with speed on the vertical.
They are capable of some stunning performances when the passing flow is right and their central combinations, mixed with the movement of forward Juan Perea, can unlock compact blocks. But recent away form has shown Levski to be a controlled rather than explosive force, averaging just 1.40 goals scored and 1.00 conceded on the road across all competitions.
Their form book shows 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat from their last 5 and they look set to arrive in Banja Luka with the right level of freshness and focus. The last two results, a 2-0 derby win at home to PFC CSKA Sofia and a 0-0 draw away to FC CSKA 1948, show they can absorb pressure and get the results they need when tight matches are on.
Lack of space and transitions will be key
These two sides will meet at Gradski Stadion in a match-up that seems to be about space and the transitions either side of the half-way line. Levski want the ball and want to dominate territory and numbers, but Borac will be happy to sit deep, clog up the center of the pitch, frustrate the visitors and then spring their counter-attack.
The odds reflect that with Levski the slight favourites at 33/20, ahead of Borac at 167/100 and the draw at 41/20. But we will take the 'unders' on this occasion as under 2.5 goals at 3/5 looks the way to go on Tuesday night.
