- FK Velez Mostar are unbeaten at home this season, winning 3 and drawing 1 of their 4 matches.
- DAC Dunajska have won 3 of their last 5 matches (1 draw, 1 defeat).
Cagey second leg expected
DAC Dunajska won the first leg of this UEFA Conference League qualification tie 1-0 and that gives them the edge going into Thursday's return fixture, although they have much more to do with a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the cards.
FK Velez Mostar's last two matches were a 1-0 away win at FC Milsami Orhei in UEFA Conference League qualification followed by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of DAC, so home advantage is going to be crucial this week. The hosts have won 3 of their 4 home games this term, but they are unbeaten on home soil (W3, D1), so it is difficult to see them succumbing to a defeat here.
DAC have been in good form of late, winning 3 of their last 5 games (1 draw, 1 defeat), but they have a poor away record to overcome. Their most recent pair of matches brought a 2-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers in a friendly, followed by the aforementioned 1-0 win over FK Velez Mostar. The visitors have won just 1 of their 5 away games this term, so they are going to have to make this tight match tight in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Midfield battle key
Ibrahim Rahimic has FK Velez Mostar set up to play patient, possession-based football, pressing selectively, looking to create space wide and from set pieces.
Robert Klauss has set DAC up to be much more direct and vertical in their play, proactive in their pressing and looking to hit teams quickly after winning the ball back. In essence, this should be a classic possession vs transition contest, but which team can control the midfield battle and land the bigger punches?
The visitors seem more in form, but FK Velez have a solid home record and it may take another tight game like the first meeting to decide it.
Under 2.5 goals looks a solid play
I am going to lean towards DAC winning this match, but not by more than a goal. The Slovakian outfit are the slight favourite at 23/25, compared to 283/100 for the hosts. The draw is 11/4, which is the price we take given the tension that is likely to be involved in this match.
Under 2.5 goals is my main selection at 9/10, while both teams to score: no is the safest play in the goal markets at 49/50.
Giorgi Gagua is the danger man for DAC as he has 1 goal in 1 UEFA Conference League qualification match and 4 goals in his last 5 appearances for the club. Aldin Mesic is the top scorer for FK Velez Mostar in this competition with 1 goal in 3 matches and he is the main outlet for the home team here.
