Croatian outfit NK Varazdin and Portuguese side Santa Clara will resume competitive action this Thursday when both teams face off at Stadion Varteks for the opening leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

This will mark not only the maiden meeting between the clubs but also their first official outing since concluding their respective 2024-25 campaigns in May.

Match preview

Despite ending their 2024-25 Croatian top-flight journey with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, Varazdin secured fourth place in the standings, which handed them direct access to this stage of the Conference League.

That finish ensures a return to the continental front for the first time since their brief run in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers back in the 2011-12 season, and as such, this will be their debut appearance in Europe’s third-tier club competition.

While that defeat to Dinamo snapped a six-match unbeaten streak in the league, Nikola Safaric’s men have looked sharp in preseason preparations, registering three victories and a goalless draw with Sesvete in their most recent warm-up outing.

However, the Croatian side will need to address their patchy form at Stadion Varteks, where they have managed only two wins from their last seven competitive matches (D5), with their struggle to turn draws into victories being a recurring theme.

Santa Clara, on the other hand, wrote a historic chapter in their 2024-25 campaign by securing their highest-ever finish in the Portuguese top flight, sealing fifth position in style.

A strong end to the season helped their cause, as Vasco Matos’s men claimed three victories in their final five matches (D2), which was enough to book a direct ticket to this round of the competition.  

This will be the second time the Azores-based side are venturing into continental football, having previously featured in the qualifiers of the Conference League in 2021-22, although they failed to reach the tournament proper on that occasion.

The Portuguese visitors will now begin their renewed push for a place in the group stage, and with four matches unbeaten on their travels across all competitions (W1, D3), they have reason to feel confident, with their most recent away result being a 1-1 draw against Farense.

NK Varazdin form (all competitions):

Santa Clara form (all competitions):

Team News

Varazdin have been active in the market, bolstering their squad with a few acquisitions, including winger Iuri Tavares, full-back Petar Bockaj and centre-forward Ivan Mamut, all secured on free transfers.   

Mamut has adapted seamlessly to his new surroundings, having found the net in two of his last three outings during the preseason, and will be looking to make an impact when he features in his first official match for the club on Thursday.

Santa Clara have also reshuffled their squad ahead of this campaign, bringing in full-back Paulo Victor on a free transfer, while winger Henrique Pereira joined from Benfica B for an undisclosed fee.

Striker Wendell, whose loan spell has now been converted into a permanent stay, could continue to lead the line, having occupied that role during the team’s final competitive fixture of last season.

Goalkeeper Gabriel Batista is expected to retain his spot between the sticks, with a probable defensive trio of Matheus Pereira, Federico Venancio and Rocha providing the shield in front of him.

NK Varazdin possible starting lineup:

Zelenika; Borsic, Ba, Mlandenovski, Tepsic; Marina, Duvnjac; Vut, Mamut, Latkovic; Antunovic

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Pereira, Venancio, Rocha; Victor, Adriano, Ferreira, Soares; Lopes, Wendel, G. Silva

We say: NK Varazdin 1-1 Santa Clara

Given both teams' current form and relative strengths, this fixture has the makings of a well-balanced affair, and while a draw seems likely, there should be enough attacking spark to expect goals at both ends.

Varazdin have scored and conceded in four of their last five home outings across all competitions, while a similar trend has been seen in four of Santa Clara’s most recent away matches.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi

Previews by email