Preview: Zrinjski Mostar vs Slovan Bratislava - prediction, team news, lineups

Slovan Bratislava will hope that their first-leg lead will make the second leg of their Champions League qualifying tie at Stadion Bijeli Brijeg against hosts Zrinjski Mostar on Tuesday a straightforward affair.

Zrinjski were beaten 4-0 in the reverse fixture on July 22 - failing to register a shot on target – and Bratislava will be confident of advancing to the third round given only one side have ever overturned a four-goal deficit in the second leg of a Champions League game.

Match preview

The hosts’ defeat at the hand of Tuesday’s visitors was the first time they had conceded four goals in any match since August 2024, when they lost 4-0 against Vitoria Guimaraes in a Conference League qualifier.

Zrinjski are yet to play their first game of the 2025-26 Bosnia-Herzegovinian top-flight season, though they enter the campaign as champions having won the 2024-25 title.

Boss Mario Ivankovic’s side have frequently faced Bratislava, but they are winless in their past four encounters with their hosts, losing three of those fixtures.

Plemici have played three matches this season – all Champions League qualifiers – and they won two times while scoring four and conceding five.

Zrinjski emerged as winners in their only home outing this season when they beat Virtus 2-1 on July 15, and the victory was their fifth consecutive triumph at Stadion Bijeli Brijeg.

Opponents Bratislava have begun the season in strong goalscoring form, with the club finding the back of the net six times in their two matches of 2025-26.

Belasi were held to a 2-2 stalemate by Presov on July 26 in their opening fixture of the Slovakian top flight, and they will be hoping to collect an eighth consecutive title.

Manager Vladimir Weiss’s side were only beaten by at least a four-goal margin twice last season, with his team suffering a 5-1 defeat against Celtic in September 2024 and a 4-0 loss against Manchester City in October 2024.

Bratislava are unbeaten in their last five competitive outings – winning three and drawing one – but they failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those games.

The visitors’ form away from home has been mixed considering they only achieved victories in two of their five most recent competitive matches, losing on two occasions.

Zrinjski Mostar Champions League form:

Zrinjski Mostar form (all competitions):

Slovan Bratislava Champions League form:

Slovan Bratislava form (all competitions):

Team News

Zrinjski are likely to utilise a back four, with Hrvoje Barisic and Ilija Masic set to be fielded as centre-backs.

In the middle of the pitch, Ivankovic has often used a double pivot, so perhaps Igor Savic and Antonio Ivancic will start on Tuesday.

As for Bratislava, they are almost certain to start a similar XI to the side that won the first leg so comprehensively, meaning striker David Strelec can be expected to be supported by Tigran Barseghyan, Marko Tolic and Vladimir Weiss.

Peter Pokorny and Rahim Ibrahim have frequently partnered each other in midfield, and they may play together against Zrinjski.

Goalkeeper Dominik Takac could be protected by central defenders Kenan Bajric and Guram Kashia.

Zrinjski Mostar possible starting lineup:

Karacic; Memija, Barisic, Masic, Mamic; Savic, Ivancic; Abramovic, Pranjic, Burey; Bilbija

Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:

Takac; Blackman, Bajric, Kashia, Zuberu; Pokorny, Ibrahim; Barseghyan, Tolic, Weiss; Strele