Preview: HJK Helsinki vs. Maribor – prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole presents Thursday’s Europa League match between HJK Helsinki and Maribor, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
HJK Helsinki continue to hunt for a place Europa League when they host Maribor in the second part of the third round of the qualifying match on Thursday.
The Slovenian, who was condemned to a 2-0 defeat in last week’s reverse leg, has lost all four of his last rounds in all competitions and will look to end that drought.
Match preview
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HJK Helsinki failed to get to the top of the Veikkausliiga, as they had to draw 1-1 with AC Oulu when the two sides met at the Raati stadium last Sunday.
Serbia International Bojan Radulovic broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a neatly taken penalty, but the substitution Michael Lopez took on the hosts when he struck in the 91st minute to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, the Club went on a three-game winning streak in Finland’s top flight, where they are currently second in the table, on points with first place KuPS, who have one game in hand.
HJK now turn their attention to the Europa League qualifiers, where they started their campaign with an impressive 2-0 win against Maribor in the first leg of their third round match last Thursday.
Toni KoskelaThe men’s men, who were sent packing from the Champions League qualifiers in July with a 7-1 defeat against Viktoria Plzen, are currently on a three-game winning streak from their last four home matches and will be looking to keep the ball rolling. .
Maribor, on the other hand, could not stop their decline in form as they lost 2-0 to home team Olimpija Ljubljana in the Slovenian Prva Liga last Saturday.
at the Ljudski vrt stadium in a fast-paced competition Svit Seslar and 24 years old Timi Max Elsnik scored either side of half-time to give the visitors a fourth straight win in all competitions.
Radovan KaranovicThe team have now lost three of their opening four matches in the Slovenian top flight for the 2022–23 season, with the only exception being a thrilling 3–2 win over Gorica on 23 July.
Maribor were also knocked out of the race for a place in the Champions League after losing 1-0 on aggregate to Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol in the second qualifying round in July.
While the Vijolicasts will look to make an impressive comeback on Thursday, they are currently on four consecutive defeats in all competitions, conceding one goal and conceding seven goals in that span.
HJK Helsinki Europa League format:
HJK Helsinki format (all competitions):
Maribor Europa League format:
Maribor format (all competitions):
Team news
HJK Helsinki enters the field without services Roope Risk and a 31-year-old defender Valtteri Morenboth of whom are recovering from knee injuries.
They are joined by an Austrian midfielder on the club’s injury list Manuel Marticwho is set to play his ninth consecutive game after picking up a knee problem against Rigas Futbola Skola on the 6th. July.
Radulovic, who has found the net in each of his last two games, should lead the hosts’ attack once again with the squad Anthony Olusanya and Malmö lends Malik Abubakari.
As for Maribor, Karanovic cannot call on the defensive duo Martin Milec and Max Watsonboth of whom have been sidelined with knee injuries.
The visiting team also has to make do with the absence of the 30-year-old goalkeeper Azbe jugwho has been out of action since April’s 2-1 win over Tabor Sezana Aleks Pihler also continues his spell on the sidelines.
HJK Helsinki possible starting line-up:
Wrong; Field, Tenho, Raitala; Browne, Hoskonen, Lingman, Murillo; Abubakari, Olusanya, Radulovic
Maribor’s possible starting line-up:
Bergsen; Zinic, Mitrovic, Watson, Sikosek; Repas, Vidakovic; Vipotnik, Antolin, Brnic; Baturina
We say: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Maribor
Although looking to make a memorable comeback, Maribor have struggled to get going in recent weeks, losing all four of their last matches in all competitions. We’re backing the home side to pick up where they left off in the first leg and use their home advantage to claim a slim second leg win.
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Top tip
Our expert tip partner at Sportita.com predict over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and more of their proven football tips.Over 1.5: data