BOSNIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 23rd WEEK

(Click here for the original Turkish text in Haber Boşnak, published April 17, 2012.)

(17 Nisan 2012 tarihinde Haber Boşnak'ta yayınlanan özgün metin için buraya tıklayınız)


By the end of the eight matches of the second half of the season, it seems that the top of the Bosnian Super League is settled to a certain degree. Struggle for title continues between Zeljo and Şiroki Brijeg, where Zeljo has an advantage of seven points difference. The victory of both teams in 23rd Week did neither change the rank nor the point difference.

The interesting coincidence in this week was that, leader Zeljo played with 4th Borac, while 2nd Şiroki Brijeg played with FK Sarajevo. Those keeping the title struggle were the victorious, where Borac and Sarajevo struggling for European cups were the losers. If it happened vice versa, the struggle for the title would be warmed a bit. At least there would be three candidates for the runner-up.  

The gap between struggle for title and struggle for European cup did relatively become wider. Moreover, stable and constant Olimpik Sarajevo having home victory over Sloboda Tuzla, and spectacular home 4-2 victory of Zrinjski against GOŞK made both teams to be candidate for the struggle to be representing Bosnia in UEFA championship.

The relegation pot is still hot. Slavija, working hard to stay in Premier League is still under the red line, but there is only one point difference with Sloboda and GOŞK. Slavija got three points after an away victory against Rudar Prijedor, another team from Republika Srpska (like Slavija), and it seems Rudar, who has a relatively easy standing probably did not make the things difficult for Slavija.

Both GOŞK and Sloboda will have a difficult week, while Slavija will play at home against Travnik, another team who does not have claim for anything. On the other hand, Sloboda will host Zeljeznicar. That means, after the matches of 24th week, Slavija’s and Sloboda’s standings may be switched: Slavija above the red line, and Sloboda under. However, we have to keep in mind that Sloboda had played the most difficult matches and the rest of the fixture is slightly easy for Tuzla team.

  

Zeljo is again victorious over Borac after the third match they played this season. Borac and Zeljo were seeded in the Kup BiH as well. Zeljo, step by step on the way to the title, had a modest victory by Adiloviç’s goal at 31st minute. 

Zeljo’s scorer Adilovic (Photo: Oslobodjenje)

Şiroki Brijeg had a clear victory over FK Sarajevo by the opening goal of Vagner and later on two goals of the Argentinean star Varea. The capital city team replied by Husejnovic’s honor goal.

The results of the matches played in the Bosnian Premier League in the 23rd week are as follow:

Zvijezda Gradaçac: 2 – Çelik Zenica: 1

Zeljeznicar: 1 – Borac Banja Luka: 0

Olimpik Sarajevo: 2 – Sloboda Tuzla: 0

Zrinjski Mostar: 4 – GOŞK Gabela: 2

NK Travnik: 3 – Velez Mostar: 2

Rudar Prijedor: 0 – Slavija: 1

Şiroki Brijeg: 3 – Sarajevo: 1

Leotar: 1 – Kozara: 0

Standings of the teams by the end of 23rd week:

(Source: www.nfsbih.ba)

Next Week’s Schedule (Week 24: April, 28-29):

Çelik – Leotar

Kozara – Şiroki Brijeg

Sarajevo – Rudar

Slavija – Travnik

Velez – Zrinjski (Mostar Derby)

GOŞK – Olimpik

Sloboda – Zeljo

Borac - Zvijezda

FK NOVI PAZAR

After a difficult three weeks, Novi Pazar succeeded to stay above the red line. In this period, Novi Pazar’s away victory against Borac was a victory of six points!

As expected, Novi Pazar had an away 3-1 defeat against Radniçka, currently the third rank in Jelen Super Liga. However, the real surprise was Borac’s home 2-0 defeat by OFK Beograd. Last week, I had mentioned about OFK’s habit to lose against teams on relegation pot. The Beograd team ashamed us this week and the three points difference between Borac and Novi Pazar remained the same. Borça, who had victory against OFK last week, had a disastrous 4-0 defeat against Jagodina.

Javor, having victory against Rad, had increased the point difference with Novi Pazar to five points, and with Borac eight points and seems to be in a safer standing.

Metalac, who recently gave positive signals showing the wish to stay in Super Liga, had an important match against Hajduk. However, the 3-1 home defeat against Hajduk destroyed the hopes. On the other side, Hajduk, like Javor, seems to be in a safer standing as well.

Standing of the teams in Serbian Jelen Super League by 25th week:

(Source: www. utakmica.rs)

In this context, since Metalac can be regarded as the first team to be relegated, the question is “Who will be the second team?” Until last week, there were five candidates, but Hajduk and Javor are no longer in this group. Currently, Borac, Novi Pazar and BSK Borça are three candidates. However, we have to keep it in mind that Novi Pazar will play at home in the following two weeks.

Today (April 25, Wednesday), Jelen Super Liga’s 26th week’s scheduled matches will be played and three candidates will play against those rivals:

Jagodina – Borac

Novi Pazar – Metalac

Partizan – Borça

It is quite difficult for Borac and BSK Borça to have some points. On the other side, Novi Pazar is likely to have a home victory against Metalac. If Metalac have had a victory over Hajduk last week, it could be a difficult match for Novi Pazar as well. However, Novi Pazar’s victory will not be surprise. Considering those probabilities, the bottom of Super Liga may have such kind a view:

13. Novi Pazar (24 points)

14. Borça (24 points)

15. Borac (18 points)

16. Metalac (14 points)