PL BiH looking forward to an exciting spring!

Fall Champion: FK Željezničar

After a rocky start to the season, Željezničar has recorded 12 games without defeat, and 9 straight wins. The team of Amar Osim played well in the Europa League defeating Sheriff (1-0, 0-0) before getting sourly eliminated by Maccabi Tel Aviv (0-2, 0-6). The team was definitely in a crisis following Maccabi’s trashing of the Bosnian cup winner. Nonetheless, the team, led by Zeba and Adilović, the league’s best assistant and striker, and pushed by veterans such as Gušo and Bešlija, managed to start a fantastic run. Željezničar look like heavy favourites to win the title, even though they currently enjoy a single point lead over their closest rival NK Široki Brijeg.

Relegation Favourites: FK Slavija, NK Travnik

We won’t elaborate a lot on Slavija; they haven’t won since week 3 and total only 7 points. Travnik, their closest concurrent, has a six point cushion, and it doesn’t look like the team from Eastern Sarajevo will close the gap any time soon. Travnik is in a much “better” position, as they are tied with 13 points with FK Kozara and FK Leotar. I am pretty confident Slavija will play in Republika Srpska’s top championship next year, while the cards are open for Travnik, Kozara, and Leotar.

Surprise of the season: HŠK Zrinjski

Last year, Zrinjski had a terrible season, and was even in relegation zone for a few weeks. Not a lot of people took Slaven Musa’s side seriously when they were announcing that this season will be one to remember. They were undefeated in their first three, very difficult travels to Travnik, Čelik, and Željezničar. They have been defeated only twice in fifteen games, which is definitely a very worthy accomplishment in the Premijer Liga. In the second half of the season, they will have an easier schedule with more games on home field. Can Zrinjski upset Sarajevo or Borac and steal a way in Europe?

Disappointment of the season: FK Sloboda

If it wasn’t for a late 90^’ goal against Slavija on home soil, I would have already discussed Sloboda’s case in the relegation favourites section. Sloboda hasn’t won a single point outside of Tuzla and they have suffered very serious defeats, shown by their -16 goal differential. Sloboda is very lucky to have 16 points, and should not take this lead for granted. Sloboda needs to restructure the club entirely and fix its financial problems if it wants to become a serious threat in Bosnian soccer.

Prediction for the second half

For the second half, I predict that the current top 5 will extend its lead over the rest, with the possibility of Olimpic joining the leading pack. Kozara, Travnik, and Leotar will battle each other until week 30 to save their spot in the Premijer Liga. I predict teams like GOŠK and Zvijezda have no chance of being relegated, even though they are not far from the bottom. I think Željezničar will extend its good run and clinch the championship with a win against Široki in week 16 and a good form in the remainder of the season. Široki will grab spot number two, while Borac will take third. Sarajevo should take fourth, and therefore qualify for Europe for a second straight year, in the likely event Željezničar, Široki or Borac win the cup.

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