Match Overview

The inaugural playoff encounter for the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 qualification phase will see Croatian side HNK Rijeka clash with Greek giants PAOK FC on August 21st at the Rujevica Stadium. This comprehensive match preview covers the prediction, potential bets, current odds, and crucial statistics for the Rijeka vs PAOK fixture.

HNK Rijeka Team Analysis

In the preceding round, Radomir Djalović’s squad faced the Irish club Shelbourne. Following a narrow 1:2 home defeat, Rijeka orchestrated a remarkable comeback with a commanding 3:1 away victory, clinching the decisive goal in the 90th minute of the match. This crucial triumph in the return leg enabled the club to finally break a daunting 3-match winless streak in the Europa League, which had seen them register one draw and two losses. Significantly, the team also showcased a revitalized offensive output, scoring more than twice in this prestigious European competition for the first time since 2014, hinting at a potential improvement in their attacking capabilities.

• The club has failed to win in regular time in 6 of their last 8 home matches in the Europa League (3 draws, 3 losses).
• The team has scored exactly 1 or 2 goals within 90 minutes in five previous home encounters in this European competition.
• The Croatians have not conceded more than one goal in regular time in 9 of their last 11 home matches in the Europa League.

HNK Rijeka Predicted Line-up (4-5-1)*

Martin Zlomislić – Ante Oreč, Ante Majstorović, Stjepan Radeljić, Mladen Devetak – Merveil Ndoki, Tiago Dantas, Gabriel Rukavina, Toni Fruk, Niko Janković – Ante Jurić.

PAOK FC Team Analysis

Răzvan Lucescu’s side were pitted against Austrian club Wolfsberg in the previous qualification stage. Both legs concluded in goalless draws, necessitating extra time in the return fixture where PAOK ultimately found the back of the net, thereby securing their progression. Nonetheless, this result meant the Greek team extended their winless streak in regular time in the Europa League to five matches, recording two draws and three losses. Moreover, in four of these five encounters, the team notably failed to score within the regulation 90 minutes, underscoring a persistent struggle with attacking efficacy.

• The club has not won in regular time in 11 of their last 13 away matches in the Europa League (2 draws, 9 losses).
• Precisely two goals were scored within 90 minutes in 5 of the team’s previous 7 away matches in this European competition.
• The Greeks have failed to score in regular time in 4 of their last 5 away Europa League matches.

PAOK FC Predicted Line-up (4-5-1)*

Jiří Pavlenka – Abdul Rahman Baba, Tomasz Kędziora, Ioannis Michailidis, Jonjo Kenny – Andrija Živković, Magomed Ozdoev, Ioannis Konstantelias, Soualiho Meïté, Luka Ivanušec – Fedor Chalov.

Referee Profile

Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)

Matches officiated – 11 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 51;

Average yellow cards per match – 4.6;

Red cards shown – 0;

Average fouls per match – 25;

Penalties awarded – 27%.

Match Prediction: Rijeka vs PAOK

Even on their home turf, the Croatians rarely exhibit significant attacking flair: in their last eight Europa League matches, Rijeka’s players have only managed to net more than one goal on a singular occasion, and in two of those encounters, they failed to score at all. Despite this, the team generally avoids committing costly defensive errors: in 9 of their last 11 home matches in this European competition, the club conceded no more than one goal, showcasing a robust defensive foundation.

PAOK finds away fixtures in European competitions particularly daunting: in their last 13 Europa League matches, the Greek team has succumbed to nine defeats. Their attacking output is notably weak in these away encounters: over this period, the club’s players have only managed to strike the opposition’s net at least twice on three occasions. Furthermore, in eight of these matches, PAOK departed the field without registering a single goal, underscoring a consistent struggle to find offensive rhythm on the road.

Considering Rijeka’s defensive resilience at home and PAOK’s pronounced struggles in away attacking performances, I fully anticipate a low-scoring affair. Therefore, my prediction is: ‘Total Goals Under 2.5’ with odds of 1.78

* For each team, the starting lineup from their last match is provided.