SS Virtus and Zrinjski Mostar will kick off their respective UEFA Champions League qualifying campaigns with a meeting at the San Marino Stadium on Tuesday. Our SS Virtus vs Zrinjski Mostar prediction gives a lowdown on what to expect here.
Contents
- 1 SS Virtus vs Zrinjski Mostar prediction: Zrinjski to run out comfortable winners
- 2 Most recent H2Hs: Both teams looking to draw first blood in debut meeting
- 3 SS Virtus preview: Hosts aiming to carry domestic dominance onto the continental scene
- 4 Zrinjski Mostar preview: Nobles targeting return to Europe for second time in three years
SS Virtus vs Zrinjski Mostar prediction: Zrinjski to run out comfortable winners
Key stats
- Our SS Virtus vs Zrinjski Mostar betting tips take into account the fact that the home side are unbeaten in their last 31 matches across all competitions.
- However, nine of Virtus' last 10 games have yielded less than three goals, with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Pennarossa the only exception.
- Zrinjski, meanwhile, have lost back-to-back games for the first time since August 2024 but were on an eight-game winning run prior to that.
- The Bosnian outfit have often made life easier for themselves by breaking the deadlock having scored first in all but one of their last 10 outings.
Correct score prediction: SS Virtus 1-4 Zrinjski Mostar
SS Virtus are aiming to become the first team from San Marino to reach the group stage of a European competition, highlighting the size of the task that lies ahead.
We are expecting Zrinjski to secure an emphatic win here, leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb heading into the return leg.
Pre-game odds and win probability: SS Virtus firmly up against it
- HOME: 25/1 (26.00) – 3.8%
- DRAW: 11/1 (12.00) – 8.3%
- AWAY: 1/12 (1.08) – 92.3%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
With a whopping 92.3% win probability, Zrinjski are overwhelming favourites to get the better of their hosts, and anything less would be deemed an underperformance.
Despite a 3-2 defeat to GOSK in their final league game of the last campaign, Mario Ivanovic's men had done enough to finish top of the Bosnian league and consequently book their place in the Champions League qualifiers.
However, they were beaten in their first pre-season game on Wednesday as Zeljeznicar claimed a 2-0 win when the sides met courtesy of goals from Matej Cvetanoski and Dzenan Sabic.
Virtus' clash against Zrinjski will see them take to the field for the first time since May's Coppa Titano final triumph over Tre Flori.
Luigi Bizzotto's men had Loris Tortori to thank, as the 36-year-old grabbed the all-important goal after just 17 minutes.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: Both teams looking to draw first blood in debut meeting
Our SS Virtus vs Zrinjski Mostar prediction shows that Tuesday's encounter is the first meeting between the teams.
This will also be a historic first clash between a Bosnian outfit and a team from the San Marino league in UEFA competitions.
SS Virtus preview: Hosts aiming to carry domestic dominance onto the continental scene
Going 31 games without defeat is no mean feat, but the major challenge for Virtus will be to prove themselves in Europe.
Tuesday's game is arguably the hosts' biggest game in years, and it remains to be seen if they will rise to the occasion.
Predicted lineup: De Angelis (GK), Gori, Sabato, Rinaldi, De Lucia, Golinucci, Ciacci, Amati, Tortori, Zulli & Lombardi
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 30/07/24
L
FC Flora Tallinn
5
SS Virtus
2
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 23/07/24
D
FC Flora Tallinn
0
SS Virtus
0
UEFA Champions League Qualifying 16/07/24
L
FCSB
4
SS Virtus
0
UEFA Champions League Qualifying 09/07/24
L
FCSB
7
SS Virtus
1
San Marino Cup 25/05/24
L
La Fiorita
0 (4)
SS Virtus
0 (2)
Zrinjski Mostar preview: Nobles targeting return to Europe for second time in three years
Zrinjski made history in 2023 as they qualified for the group stages of a UEFA competition for the first time due to their appearance in the Conference League.
Just one win and four defeats from six games meant that Tuesday's visitors suffered an early exit, but they will be keen to return to the European stage, having missed out entirely last time out.
Predicted lineup: Karacic (GK), Mamic, Dujmovic, Barisic, Memija, Ivancic, Savic, Abramovic, Kis, Sikanjic & Mulahusejenovic
Europe Friendlies 31/01/25
D
Sutjeska Niksic
1
Zrinjski Mostar
1
Europe Friendlies 25/01/25
W
OFK Vrsac
0
Zrinjski Mostar
1
Europe Friendlies 18/01/25
W
NK Croatia Zmijavci
0
Zrinjski Mostar
1
Bosnia & Herzegovina Premier Liga 15/12/24
L
Radnik Bijeljina
2
Zrinjski Mostar
0
Bosnia & Herzegovina Premier Liga 08/12/24
W
Borac Banja Luka
0
Zrinjski Mostar
1