Preview: FK Vojvodina vs Ferencvaros – prediction, team news, schedule

Backed by a strong finish to their domestic season, Vojvodina begin their Europa League qualifying campaign when Ferencvaros visit the Karadjordje Stadium in Novi Sad on Thursday evening for the first leg of the first qualifying round.

The Hungarian visitors narrowly missed out on the league title by one point, and with a new manager in charge for the first time in this European campaign, Ferencvaros will be eager to make an early statement in the first ever meeting between the two clubs.

Game preview

Vojvodina go into Thursday’s first leg after a strong home campaign, finishing second in the Serbian SuperLiga with 76 points – behind only champions FK Crvena Zvezda, who have collected 86 points all season.

The Belgrade side also reached the final of the Serbian Cup, where they fell to Crvena Zvezda on penalties, and while the season ended without silverware, the consistent performances gave Miroslav Tanjga’s side great confidence heading into European football.

This marks Vojvodina’s return to the Europa League after being eliminated in the second round in the 2024/25 season, when Ajax eliminated them 4-1 on aggregate.

Their form at the end of last season was very encouraging, with Vojvodina going eight games without defeat in regular time – the only loss in that run coming on penalties against Crvena Zvezda – winning five of those eight.

Since the end of the domestic season, Tanjga’s side have kept pace in three club friendlies, losing one, drawing one and winning their latest game – a stunning 3-0 win over Universitatea Cluj which will give them a boost of confidence ahead of Thursday’s European opener.

Ferencvaros arrives in Novi Sad having endured a painful end to its domestic season, finishing second in the Hungarian league with 68 points – one point behind champions ETO Gyor, who lifted the title with 69 points and ended Ferencvaros’ impressive seven-year run in a row.

The Hungarian giants reached the round of 16 in last season’s Europa League before suffering a dramatic collapse against Braga – winning the first leg 2-0 before losing 4-0 in the tie – a result that will have reinforced the importance of not sitting in a favorable first-leg position.

Robbie Keane stepped down as head coach at the end of the 2025/26 season, taking over in January 2025, and Balazs Borbely has been appointed in his place – making Thursday’s first leg in Novi Sad the new manager’s first competitive game in charge of the club.

Ferencvaros are in strong form, going five games unbeaten, with their recent 1-0 win over Qarabag providing a positive note ahead of the trip to Serbia.

Thursday’s game is historically significant as it is the first ever clash between Vojvodina and Ferencvaros – the clubs have never even met in a friendly, meaning both sides will be heading into the unknown when the first whistle blows at the Karadjordje Stadium.

Form of FK Vojvodina (all competitions):

Ferencvaros form (all competitions):

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Team News

© Imago Photo / Gonzales

Neither side was injured ahead of Thursday’s first leg, so both managers are expected to name strong players given the importance of getting a good result in the home leg.

The Vojvodina Defensive Unit is expected to be composed of Petar Sukacev, Sinisa Tanjga, Kornel Szucs and Mihai Butean, protected by three midfielders Slobodan Medojevic, Dragan Kokanovic and Marko Mladenovic.

Milan Kolarevic will provide width from the left, while 18-year-old Damjan Djokanovic is expected to lead the line at center forward.

For Ferencvaros, the defenders are expected to include Barnabas Nagy, Mariano Gomez, Toon Raemaekers and Callum O’Dowda, providing an experienced defensive base for Borbel’s first competitive game in charge.

In the center of the field, Cadu, Gavriel Kanichowsky, Philippe Rommens and Marius Corbu are expected to be included, which gave Ferencvaros intelligence and defense in the middle of the field.

Lenny Joseph played for Haiti at the 2026 World Cup, where the Caribbean nation was knocked out in the group stage, and it remains to be seen whether the striker is back in club training in time for Thursday’s game.

If Joseph is unavailable, Benjamin Golik and Zsombor Gruber could lead the offensive line.

FK Vojvodina starting line-up:

Gocmanac; Sukacev, Tanjga, Szucs, Butean; Medojevic, Kokanovic; Kolarevic, Mladenovic, Randjelovic; Djokanovic

Ferencvaros starts with the order:

Dibusz; Nagy, Gomez, Raemaekers, O’Dowda; Cadu, Kanichowsky, Rommens, Corbu; Joseph, Gruber

We say: FK Vojvodina 1-3 Ferencvaros

Ferencvaros comes with a classy European pedigree and a five-match unbeaten run, and while Vojvodina’s home record and competitive edge make them a dangerous opponent at the Karadjordje Stadium, the Hungarian side possess enough individual quality to finish the first leg on the road.

Vojvodina’s penalty shootout loss to Crvena Zvezda was the only blip in their eight-game unbeaten run, and Tanjga’s side will be competitive, but Ferencvaros’ experience of competing at this level favors the visitors.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.