Zrinjski Mostar vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Already-qualified Villa will make changes for this trip to Bosnia
• Both teams have scored in both of Zrijnski’s home Conference League group games and both of Villa’s away group contests
• Both teams have scored in five of Villa’s last seven away matches in all competitions

Emery to make changes in Mostar

Aston Villa head to Mostar with all the heavy lifting already done in the Europa Conference League group stage, although Unai Emery’s team needs a point against Zrijnski to ensure they avoid the play-off round.

The Spaniard is still likely to make widespread changes to his starting XI to freshen up after a gruelling week in which they beat the top two Premier League finishers from last season.

In-form winger Leon Bailey came off at the break on Saturday evening with muscle fatigue and may be among the regulars rested.

Both teams can bag in Conference League clash

Zrijnski are down and out in Group E and can only avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom by beating Villa while hoping AZ lose to Legia Warsaw in Poland.

They could welcome back midfielder Zvonimir Kozulj after a long absence brought about by his refusal to apologise to former coach Krunoslav Rendulic after a disciplinary issue.

Kozulj scored twice and assisted another off the bench in Zrijnski’s incredible 4-3 comeback win over AZ in September, but their European results since took a nosedive.

Expecting them to beat Villa in both sides’ current form seems far-fetched, but they can grab a goal in a game that should produce more than the one stoppage-time effort Villa Park saw when these clubs last met.