Can the Croatians stage a comeback? Prediction for the Conference League match Rijeka vs Midtjylland
In the second leg of the Conference League's fourth qualifying round, Rijeka will host Midtjylland on their home turf. The clash is set for Croatia on Thursday, August 27, with kickoff at 20:45 Central European Time. I'm offering a bet focused on the number of goals in this encounter.
Head-to-head and statistical facts
- Rijeka has lost two of their last three matches.
- At home, the Croatians have won five consecutive games.
- Midtjylland are unbeaten in their last six fixtures.
- The first leg in Denmark ended with a 2-0 victory for the hosts.
Rijeka kicked off their European campaign in the Conference League's second qualifying round. The Croatians twice edged out Derry City by identical 1-0 scores—first at home, then away—comfortably overcoming the Irish hurdle with a 2-0 aggregate.
In the next round, Rijeka faced Finnish side Ilves. They secured a 1-0 home win and drew 1-1 away. Once again, the Croatians advanced without defeat, but in the next stage, they were up against much tougher opposition.
The start of the Croatian league season has been mixed for Rijeka. In Round 3, they fell 0-2 away to Varazdin but bounced back with a crucial 3-2 home victory over Istra 1961. After three matches, Rijeka sits on six points, having already contested several tough games amid their European schedule.
Rijeka's squad underwent changes in the summer. One of the notable additions was German winger Yusuf Kabadai, who joined on loan from Augsburg. However, the team lost several players, including Stjepan Radelić and Dejan Petrović, both departing after their contracts expired.
Midtjylland have also had a challenging journey in this European campaign. They started in the Europa League qualifiers against Besiktas, losing 0-1 in Turkey and then 0-2 at home, which knocked them out of the competition. Midtjylland then continued their European run in the Conference League.
In the third qualifying round, the Danish club was drawn against Bohemians. Midtjylland won the first leg in Ireland 2-0 and sealed the deal at home with a 3-2 win. The aggregate score was a convincing 5-2, sending them confidently into the crucial qualifying round.
Domestically, the team is also in good form. Midtjylland opened the Danish league season with a 3-2 win over SønderjyskE, followed by a 2-1 victory against Horsens, a 1-1 draw with Lyngby, and a narrow 1-0 triumph over Randers ahead of the second leg with Rijeka. That’s ten points from four matches and still unbeaten.
It's worth highlighting that Midtjylland have already shown their ability to get results in Europe. Their 2-0 win over Rijeka in the first leg was another example of the Danes' pragmatic approach. Now, away from home, they only need to defend smartly and prevent the hosts from scoring early. With their current form, they can also threaten on the counterattack.
What’s the bet?
Rijeka will be forced to go on the offensive from the opening minutes, needing to overcome a two-goal deficit. This could lead to plenty of attacking play from the hosts but will also leave space for Midtjylland to exploit. Given the Danes' current form and their aggregate lead, expect the visitors to avoid unnecessary risks and focus on preserving their advantage. My pick is under 2.5 total goals in the match.
