Crvena zvezda and Borac prepare for Conference League openers

European football competitions resume this Thursday with several key matchups in the UEFA Conference League. Crvena zvezda travels to Switzerland to face Lugano, the current Swiss league leaders. The Serbian side faces significant squad challenges, missing several key players including Aleksandar Katai due to disciplinary measures, and Mirko Ivanić, Mohamed Abu Fani, and Loizos Loizu due to injuries. Manager Albert Rijera emphasized the need for discipline and stability, stating, “If everyone does what they want, it is a circus.” The match will be held at Lugano’s new AIL Arena.

In another Conference League fixture, Borac Banja Luka travels to Athens to face Panathinaikos. Borac manager Vinko Marinović expressed confidence in his squad's quality despite the strength of the Greek opponent, noting that the team has shown great motivation during the qualifying rounds.

Other notable European fixtures include matches involving Ajax, Hajduk, RB Salzburg, and AC Milan in the Europa League.