At A Glance
Aston Villa will look to maintain their strong form at Villa Park when HŠK Zrinjski arrive for a Europa Conference League clash on Thursday night.
After a tough 3-2 defeat against Legia Warszawa to begin Group E, Unai Emery’s side will try and get back on track against the Bosnian champions.
Villa thrashed Brighton & Hove Albion 6-1 on Saturday to record their tenth straight Premier League home win, setting them up nicely for this encounter.
Zrinjski secured a win of their own in their last outing on Sunday, seeing off FK Igman Konjic 2-0 in the Premijer Liga.
The men from Mostar stunned the competition in the first round of group matches, coming from three down to beat AZ Alkmaar 4-3.
They are the first club from Bosnia and Herzegovina to feature in a major UEFA group stage.
Opposition Watch
Led by manager Krunoslav Rendulić, Zrinjski are the reigning champions of Bosnia and Herzegovina after winning the title by 20 points last season.
They’ve started strongly again this time round, winning five of their opening seven league matches.
Zrinjski have already played nine European matches this season, starting in the first round of Champions League qualifiers back in early July.
Slovan Bratislava ended their hopes of reaching the main draw for Europe’s premier club competition before they also lost in Europa League qualifying, seeing them join Villa in the Conference League.
Their main man is captain and top scorer Nemanja Bilbija, who has netted 10 goals in 16 appearances this term.
Matchday One
HŠK Zrinjski launched a stunning comeback from three goals down to beat AZ Alkmaar in Bosnia and Herzegovina in their Group E opener.
The Dutch visitors made a fast start and went ahead on ten minutes when Myron van Brederode swept home Mayckel Lahdo’s cross at the back post.
Sven Mijnans extended their lead before the game was seemingly put out of Zrinjski’s reach on the stroke of half-time when Dani de Wit’s shot was deflected into the far corner.
But the comeback began less than three minutes after the restart when Zvonimir Kozulj caught the AZ goalkeeper out by whipping a free-kick in at his near post.
Zrinjski bagged their second when Josip Corluka floated what looked to be a cross into the top corner of the net before they struck again three minutes later via Aldin Hrvanovic’s crisp finish.
Kozulj was the man to win it for the home side after 82 minutes, tapping home the rebound after a shot had struck the post.
The Boss
“For me it’s about trying to write a new history here. The players and coaches have our experiences, but we want to write again and do a new history here. And playing in Europe, the difficulty is every team is very excited in Europe, and to play against Premier League teams is a challenge. Each challenge they are facing trying to take their opportunity. We have to try to be strong at home, play with our supporters at home pushing us. We have to try to play knowing and respecting the opponent. Tomorrow is a new challenge here at home after our first match in Warsaw. We are really excited and really focused trying to get a good performance at home.”
Unai Emery
