Ferencváros’ Goalless Draw Leaves Europa League Qualification in Doubt

Although yesterday’s data predicted a win for Ferencváros (also known as Fradi, FTC) and the bookmakers also said that Fradi were the favorites, the Hungarian club played a goalless draw against Bosnian side FK Borac Banja Luka in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League qualifying.

Before yesterday’s match, the average odds were 1.25 for Ferencváros to win, 5.7 for a draw and 10.61 for Bosnia to win, meaning that the average odds were 74.8 percent for the home team, 16.4 percent for a draw and 8.8 percent for the away team. Furthermore, FTC’s chances of victory were boosted by the fact that the Hungarian team is worth much more. The total value of Ferencváros’ players is EUR 54.68 million, writes Világgazdaság. Transfermarkt also revealed that they have over 15 players worth more than EUR 1 million. FK Borac Banja Luka’s total value is EUR 7.41 million, showing a difference of EUR 47 million between the two sides.

In the encounter at the Groupama Arena in Budapest, Ferencváros had a significant advantage in the field, but failed to create any serious goal-scoring chances and their opponents were almost completely without danger.

The return leg will take place in a week’s time.

The winner of the clash will start in UEFA Europa League, the second-tier competition of European club football, ranking below the UEFA Champions League, while the defeated team will advance to the UEFA Conference League.

Ferencváros had a slight advantage in the first half, but could not create any noteworthy situations. The two goalkeepers had almost nothing to do in the first forty-five minutes.

The game remained the same after the break, although the home side did at least try to test the visitors’ goalkeeper with a shot once or twice.

Towards the end of the game, Fradi’s head coach Pascal Jansen tried to freshen up his team with a triple substitution, but the newcomers quickly “greyed” into the match.

The visitors continued to hold the result confidently in the final minutes, with no goals being scored by either team during the evening.

Via MTI, Világgazdaság; Featured image via MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt