Jablonec

vs

NK Varazdin

Tips, Stats and Odds

It’s the visitors who carry the form

Jablonec are the home side this week, but they are not the favourites to go through and they are on a very bad run. The Czech club claimed a 3-2 win away in the first leg, but it is NK Varaždin who carry the better form into Thursday's UEFA Conference League qualifier. Lubos Kozel has been in charge of Jablonec since July 2024 and has got them playing a compact, centre-focused game that sees them try to nick control of the centre circle, use wing-backs to push the width, pounce on turnover opportunities and punish opponents on set plays. Martin Cedidla is the main spark in the team with 1 goal in 1 UEFA Conference League qualification appearance, but Nemanja Tekijaski is another option after hitting 2 goals in the last 5 fixtures. The hosts will need to be on their game in order to get past NK Varaždin, who are very different creatures indeed. Nikola Safaric has led NK Varaždin in a positive direction since taking the reigns in December 2023, but they have remained flexible and sharp in transition, with Luka Mamic contributing 3 of his 9 goals across the last 5 matches.

A clash of styles awaits at Stadion Strelnice

This clash should be a real chess match with Jablonec's structured approach against Varaždin's directness and transition-heavy approach. The visitors have won 3 games in a row coming into this one and that form should see them make a real game of this return leg. Jablonec's home record in all current competitions is 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats from 5, while NK Varaždin have won 2 and lost 2 in the same 4 away fixtures, scoring 1.50 goals per game on average and conceding 1.25. Backing over 2.5 goals at 31/50 and both teams to score at 13/20 should be a better play than the draw at 16/5 or the home win at 71/100 because this is not likely to be a cagey game.