Preview: HNK Rijeka vs Strasbourg – prediction, workforce information, lineups

Croatian aspect HNK Rijeka have loved a powerful run within the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League and now stand two matches away from a spot within the quarter-finals as they put together to host RC Strasbourg Alsace within the spherical of 16 at Stadion HNK Rijeka on Thursday.

The first leg will happen in Rijeka, whereas the return fixture is scheduled per week later in France, with either side battling to maintain their European marketing campaign alive and transfer a step nearer to the ultimate in Leipzig in May.

Match preview

Rijeka’s marketing campaign started earlier within the season within the league part of the Europa Conference League, the place the Croatian aspect confronted a demanding schedule in opposition to groups from throughout the continent.

The aspect confirmed resilience and defensive self-discipline all through the stage, securing beneficial outcomes together with a goalless draw in opposition to Shakhtar Donetsk and a convincing 3–0 victory over NK Celje, performances that helped them stay aggressive within the standings and laid the platform for his or her push into the knockout rounds.

After navigating the league part, the Rijeka Whites continued their European journey within the knockout play-offs, producing a robust show in opposition to AC Omonia by successful each legs of the tie to safe their place within the spherical of 16.

The workforce’s attacking risk underneath Victor Sanchez del Amo has been pushed by a number of key contributors in the course of the match, with midfielder Toni Fruk rising as one of many aspect’s main scorers whereas gamers comparable to Dion Drena Beljo and Niko Petrovic have additionally delivered necessary objectives and inventive spark, serving to Rijeka stay aggressive in opposition to stronger European opposition.

However, the problem dealing with Rijeka within the spherical of 16 is important, as their opponents Strasbourg completed high of the league part and entered the knockout stage as one of many seeded sides after an unbeaten run, that means the Croatian membership will seemingly want two sturdy performances to maintain their European dream alive.

With the primary leg set to be performed in entrance of their dwelling supporters at Stadion HNK Rijeka, the hosts will hope to grab the initiative earlier than the decisive return match in France, understanding {that a} constructive end result on Thursday may put them in a robust place to succeed in the quarter-finals and proceed what has already been a memorable European marketing campaign.

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Strasbourg have loved a powerful run within the 2025–26 Conference League, and their marketing campaign continues this week with a difficult round-of-16 first leg away to HNK Rijeka on Thursday evening.

Having emerged as some of the constant groups within the competitors up to now, the aspect led by Gary O’Neil will journey to Croatia with confidence as they goal to take one other step towards the latter phases of Europe’s third-tier membership match.

Strasbourg’s sturdy performances within the league part ensured they completed high of the standings and secured automated qualification for the spherical of 16, with their spectacular type throughout the opening stage seeing them stay unbeaten and permitting them to bypass the knockout play-off spherical totally.

The French membership’s success has been constructed on an lively attacking method and a number of other standout particular person shows, with ahead Martial Godo rising as considered one of their fundamental attacking threats within the competitors after contributing three objectives and two assists within the match.

Now, nonetheless, the extent of problem will increase as Strasbourg put together to face Rijeka over two legs, with the Croatian hosts identified to be harmful opponents at dwelling the place the compact environment and passionate assist usually make life troublesome for visiting groups.

Thursday’s first leg at Stadion HNK Rijeka subsequently represents an important check for Le Racing as they try to keep up their momentum and proceed what has been an encouraging European marketing campaign.

HNK Rijeka Conference League type:

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HNK Rijeka type (all competitions):

Strasbourg Conference League type:

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Team News

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HNK Rijeka have virtually a clear invoice of well being heading into the tie, though right-back Teo Barisic stays sidelined with the hamstring harm he sustained final month, whereas midfielder Toni Fruk was a late substitute of their latest league match in opposition to HNK Vukovar 1991 attributable to a suspected harm and will miss the European conflict.

Sanchez del Amo is predicted to welcome again the duo of Tornike Morchiladze and Merveil Ndockyt after each served suspensions in the course of the second leg in opposition to AC Omonia, though defenders Ante Majstorovic and Ante Orec are strolling a disciplinary tightrope and danger suspension in the event that they obtain one other reserving.

For the guests, Strasbourg even have a number of harm considerations forward of Thursday’s encounter, with striker Emanuel Emegha nonetheless sidelined attributable to a muscle fibre tear, defender Aaron Anselmino recovering from a hamstring harm, and winger Diego Moreira unavailable due to an abductor downside.

Meanwhile, Valentin Barco and Guela Doue are additionally one reserving away from suspension after accumulating two yellow playing cards in the course of the league part of the Conference League this season.

HNK Rijeka doable beginning lineup:

Zlomsilic; Majstorovic, Husic, Devetak; Lasickas, Barco, Dantas, Orec; Radeljic, Gojak, Juric

Strasbourg doable beginning lineup:

Penders; Doue, Doukoure, Omobamidele, Chilwell; El Mourabet, Barco; Oyedele, Enciso, Godo; Panichelli

We say: HNK Rijeka 1-1 Strasbourg

Two groups who’ve proven respectable type all through the competitors will meet on Thursday, however with the knockout stage now underway the stress and stress of the event may make the competition notably cagey.

While Rijeka will look to capitalise on dwelling benefit and construct a lead earlier than the return leg in France, Strasbourg’s consistency within the competitors suggests they’re able to securing a end result on the highway, and a stalemate in Croatia seems a sensible final result forward of the decisive second leg.

For knowledge evaluation of the most probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.