Our prediction for this Europa League match:
A spot in the Europa League group stages will be at stake when Slovan Bratislava and Aris Limassol face each other in a highly-anticipated double-header. Slovan Bratislava aim to recover from the Champions League defeat to Maccabi Haifa, but Thursday’s game will be anything but a walk in the park for the home side. Vladimir Weiss has no fresh injury worries, while midfielder Tigran Barseghyan is only one yellow card away from suspension.
The Cypriotes, on the other hand, aim to make amends for the Champions League loss to Rakow. As Aris Limassol have been scoring goals for fun in European competitions this term, we are tempted to put our money on both teams to score. As for the visiting team, Gabon international Alex Moucketou-Moussounda is one yellow card away from suspension, while former Crvena zvezda midfielder Veljko Nikolic is pushing for a start.
Highlighted Team (Slovan Bratislava):
Over the years Slovan Bratislava have established themselves as the most successful Slovakian club. The Belasi clinched their 13th domestic trophy in the 2018/2019 season, finishing the campaign 14 points clear of second-placed Zilina. Slovan Bratislava welcome their rivals at Tehelne pole, the stadium with the capacity of 22,500.
The Tehelne pole club wear white shirts and white shorts when playing at home, while blue is the dominant colour of their away kit. Spartak Trnava are regarded as the club’s fiercest rivals, but they hold the rivalry with DAC Dunajska Streda as well. There have always been fireworks in matches between Slovan and Inter Bratislava, especially when both teams were part of the Czechoslovak First League.
In the 1968/69 season Slovan Bratislava won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, with the team beating star-studded La Liga side Barcelona in the title game. It has to be noted that the likes of Cvetler, Hrivnak and Jan Capkovic scored for the Slovaks in the final of the European competition.