PREVIEW | HŠK Zrinjski - FK Borac

For the second consecutive season, Zrinjski has secured a spot in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup final, and their opponent in the quest for another trophy will be Borac, the current leaders of the league.

Unlike last year when the Cup winner was decided in a single final match, this season will feature two legs – the first tomorrow at 6:00 PM at the HŠK Zrinjski stadium, and the return leg on May 22nd at 5:00 PM at the City Stadium in Banja Luka.

Zrinjski will be aiming for their third Cup title in their third final appearance, having emerged victorious against Sloboda (2008) and Velež (2022) in the previous two finals. On the other hand, Borac has reached the final three times before (2004, 2010, 2021), winning only in the 2009/2010 season against Željezničar.

The current double crown holder has reached the final without conceding a goal, with victories over Čelik (6:0), Slavija (3:0), Jedinstvo (1:0, 2:0), and Sloga (0:0, 3:0). Meanwhile, Borac eliminated Radnik Hadžići (1:0), Zvijezda 09 (2:0), Sarajevo (0:0, 3:0), and Široki Brijeg (3:1, 2:1) on their way to the final.

Zrinjski enters the first leg of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup final on the back of eight consecutive league victories. Their unbeaten streak in the league began after a home defeat to Borac (0:1) in the 22nd round. Borac, on the other hand, secured their spot in the final after defeating Široki Brijeg (3:1, 2:1) following their loss to Zrinjski and recorded four wins (Sloga 1:0, Posušje 1:0, Široki Brijeg 2:1, GOŠK 3:1) and two draws (Velež 1:1, Sarajevo 1:1) in the league.

Between these two opponents, there have been a total of 46 official matches, with Zrinjski recording more victories (23 – 16). They have met four times in the Cup competition – Plemići were successful in the 2002/2003 season (quarter-finals – 0:1, 2:0), 2013/2014 season (round of 16 – 4:0, 1:1), and 2016/2017 season (round of 32 – 5:0), while Borac advanced only in the 2006/2007 season (round of 32 – 2:3).

The first of the three matches this season ended in a draw in Banja Luka (0:0), Borac won 1:0 in Mostar in the 22nd round, while the match in the 24th round in Banja Luka ended with Zrinjski’s triumph of 2:1.

The main referee for the first leg of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup final will be Sabrija Topalović from Zenica. In the current season, he has officiated nine league matches and one in the Cup, while he has refereed for Plemići only four times in his career – the last match being in the 2021/2022 season against Posušje (2:2).