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Botev Plovdiv and Zrinjski will trade tackles in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League third-round qualification tie on Thursday. The home side are coming into the game on the back of a 1-0 away win over Krumovgrad in the Bulgarian Parva Liga over the weekend.
James Eto'o's 52nd-minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The Canaries will turn their focus to the continent and dropped into the Conference League following their 6-1 aggregate defeat to Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League. A 2-1 defeat in Greece was followed by a 4-0 loss at home in the second leg.
Zrinjski, meanwhile, claimed a 3-1 away win over Bravo in the second leg of their second-round qualification tie. Nardin Mulahusejnovic, Slobodan Jakovljevic and Frano Mlinar scored to help their side advance with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
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The winner of this tie will face either FC Zurich or Vitoria Guimaraes in the playoff round for a place in the group stage while the losers are eliminated from the continent.
Botev vs Zrinjski Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two sides were drawn in the 2013-14 Europa League qualifiers. Botev advanced with a 3-1 aggregate victory, drawing 1-1 in the first leg and claiming a 2-0 home win in the second.
- Zrinjski have won one of their last seven away games in UEFA club competitions (five losses).
- Botev's loss to Panathinaikos ended their 11-game unbeaten home run in UEFA club competitions (seven wins).
- Zrinjski have won 13 of their last 14 games (one loss).
- Six of Botev's seven competitive games this season have produced three goals or more.
Botev vs Zrinjski Prediction
Botev saw their 30-year unbeaten run at home in European competitions ended in embarrassing circumstances last week. Dušan Kerkez' side will be hoping to bounce back and are the slight favorites in this game.
Zrinjski overcame a shock 1-0 first-leg loss at home to Bravo to advance from the last round. They have generally tended to struggle in away games on the continent but can draw inspiration from their performance in Slovenia last week.
We are tipping the home side to claim a narrow victory with goals at both ends.
Prediction: Botev Plovdiv 2-1 Zrinjski
Botev vs Zrinjski Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Botev to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
