Rijeka — PAOK : Match Preview and Prediction for August 21,2025

Rijeka’s European Ambitions and Recent Form

The ‘Whites’ made history by ending Dinamo Zagreb’s long-standing dominance in the national championship, securing their first title since 2016. However, solidifying this achievement proves challenging. While a victory over Shelbourne in the previous round guarantees the Croatian squad at least a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, their initial aspirations were firmly set on a Champions League berth, which, unfortunately, remains out of reach.

Challenges and Home Performance

Despite the setback, there remains considerable motivation, as a place in the UEFA Europa League would offer significantly more prestige. Nevertheless, the hosts’ recent performances have been less than stellar. Since the commencement of the new season, the club has already exited Champions League qualification and has managed just two wins in six competitive fixtures. Furthermore, in their European home matches, Rijeka failed to overcome both Ludogorets and Shelbourne. Considering this, the Greek side, PAOK, certainly presents no less of a challenge than these past opponents.

PAOK’s Season Start and Tactical Considerations

The Greek club has played two matches this season, failing to score against Wolfsberger in regular time on both occasions. Crucially, they also maintained clean sheets, resulting in two uneventful goalless draws followed by a victory in extra time. It’s challenging to draw definitive conclusions from these matches, especially with their domestic league still a week away from starting. Coach Lucescu has integrated eight new players, indicating the team clearly requires time to establish cohesion. However, their pre-season friendly results offer some optimism for the fans; in four matches, the ‘Black and Whites’ suffered only one defeat, and that was against Ajax. What approach can be expected in Croatia? Most likely, a cautious, counter-attacking style. With a setup featuring two defensive midfielders and flexible tactics, Lucescu will probably aim for a draw, but there’s always the possibility of pushing for a win.