Preview: Drita vs Celje – prediction, team news, lineups

Drita welcome Celje to the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri on Thursday night for the primary leg of their UEFA Convention League playoff tie.

The Intelektualet fell to a 3-0 defeat away to Rayo Vallecano of their ultimate league section match, whereas Grofje have been held to a 0-0 draw by Shelbourne on the Stadion Z’dezele.

Match preview

In the event that they have been to progress from this stage, Drita would make historical past as the primary facet from Kosovo to achieve the knockout stage of a UEFA males’s membership competitors.

For the reason that Convention League’s introduction within the 2021-22 season, the Intelektaulet have been an ever-present within the competitors’s qualifying rounds, but that is the primary time that the membership have reached the primary stage of the event.

Within the league section, Zekirija Ramadani’s facet completed twentieth with eight factors from their six matches and solely fell to defeat towards what many would take into account superior opposition within the type of each AZ Alkmaar and Rayo Vallecano.

Regardless of making it to this stage of the competitors, Drita have considerably did not impress although, scoring solely 4 objectives of their six Convention League matches thus far, a tally that solely three different sides did not match.

Contemplating they have been champions by an enormous 12-point margin final season, the Kosovian will undoubtedly be underwhelmed by their home league showings too as they presently sit third within the Superliga after 20 matches.

After a formidable run of their maiden Convention League marketing campaign, Celje will definitely be trying to surpass this stage as soon as once more this season.

Regardless of being eradicated on the quarterfinal stage by Italian giants Fiorentina within the competitors’s 2024-25 instalment, Grofje massively impressed and have been the lowest-ranked facet within the event to progress previous the playoff spherical.

Successful three of their six league section video games, the Slovenian outfit completed thirteenth within the league desk this time round and are additionally 12 factors clear atop the Prva Liga after solely 22 matches.

Nonetheless, after failing to win any of their earlier three Convention League matches, all of which have been towards sides that completed decrease than them within the desk, Celje will definitely want to enhance in the event that they need to attain the knockout section.

With Albert Riera’s 18-month rein coming to an finish in the beginning of the month, it additionally stays to be seen how lengthy it would take new boss Ivan Maevskiy to adapt to the membership and if he can replicate his predecessor by main Grofje deep into the competitors.

Drita Convention League type:

Drita type (all competitions):

Celje Convention League type:

Celje type (all competitions):

Crew Information

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire

After selecting up his third yellow card of this season’s Convention League marketing campaign towards Rayo Vallecano, Blerton Sheji will serve a one-match suspension for Drita on Thursday night.

The house facet may also be with out defender Juan Mesa, who’s but to make an look this season, whereas Rron Broja stays sidelined with an damage sustained towards Shkendija in November.

With first-choice goalkeeper Faton Maloku more likely to stay unavailable, Laurit Behluli will definitely make his second look on this season’s competitors.

Celje proceed to overlook 25-year-old Mark Zabukovnik, who stays out after selecting up a knee damage in August’s Convention League qualifying rounds.

The guests may also be with out defender Zan Karnicnik who sustained a shoulder damage in November.

Beginning his first match of the season towards Mura on Saturday, back-up goalkeeper Luka Kolar was withdrawn after solely two minutes as a result of damage, which means Zan Leban will resume place within the Celje web.

Drita potential beginning lineup:

Behlul; Krasniqi, Bejtulai, Pellumbi, Ovouka, Morina; Mustafa, Dabiqaj; Krasniqi, Manaj, Ajzeraj

Celje potential beginning lineup:

Lebanon; Juanjo Nieto, Vodeb, Tutyskinas, Bejger; Vidovic, Seslar, Kvesic; Kucys, Iosifov, Avdyli

We are saying: Drita 1-2 Celje

Whereas Riera’s departure from the membership is undoubtedly an enormous blow, Celje will likely be assured that their prior Convention League expertise can lead them comfortably into the knockout section of this season’s competitors.

Though Drita have impressed up so far, we imagine the away facet simply have an excessive amount of high quality for them and can sit firmly within the driver’s seat forward of the second leg in per week’s time.

For knowledge evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.