HNK Rijeka vs FC Midtjylland
Midtjylland storm back to rout Rijeka
After an early setback, Midtjylland turned the game on its head with a commanding display.
Rijeka took an early lead through D. Adu-Adjei, but FC Midtjylland responded emphatically with four goals after the break, courtesy of S. Iheanacho, D. Osorio, M. Jensen, and Cho Gue-Sung. The Danish side's dominant second-half performance secured a convincing 4-1 victory. Fipster's low-confidence prediction of an away win was on the money, though the margin was far more emphatic than expected.
Outcome probability
The playoff round fixture between HNK Rijeka and FC Midtjylland promises a closely fought encounter. Both teams have shown competitive form in this competition, but Midtjylland's recent performances suggest they might just have the edge.
Match factors
FC Midtjylland's superior scoring form
Midtjylland averages 2.33 goals per game vs Rijeka's 0.8, indicating stronger attack
Franculino Djú's dual threat as scorer and assister
Djú leads team in goals (2) and assists (1), central to Midtjylland's offense
Midtjylland's winning streak and clean sheets
Team has won last 3 games with 2 clean sheets, showing strong momentum
Defensive solidity from Johannesen and Bech
Johannesen's goal threat and Bech's defensive work provide balance
No confirmed injuries for either team
Full squads available, so tactical and form factors dominate
The context
In this competition, HNK Rijeka have played five matches with three wins, one draw, and one loss, scoring four goals and conceding three. Their most recent knockout encounter was a 0-2 loss away to FC Midtjylland. Midtjylland, on the other hand, have a perfect record in three matches, winning all and scoring seven goals while conceding just two. Their last knockout match was a 2-0 home victory over Rijeka. The head-to-head record stands at one win for Midtjylland and none for Rijeka, with no draws.
Key insights
Franculino Djú
FC Midtjylland
Djú is central to Midtjylland's attack, leading with 2 goals and 1 assist in just 2 games, making him a constant threat.
UEFA Europa Conference League 26/272 goals and 1 assist in 2 appearances
- S
S. Johannesen
FC Midtjylland
Johannesen contributes both defensively and offensively, scoring once and maintaining strong form with a recent rating of 8.2.
UEFA Europa Conference League 26/271 goal in 2 games, recent rating 8.2
- M
M. Bech
FC Midtjylland
Bech provides defensive stability with high passing accuracy (89%) and strong duel success, crucial for Midtjylland's balance.
UEFA Europa Conference League 26/2789% passing accuracy, 2 tackles per game, 63.2% duel win rate
Analysis
Midtjylland's attacking prowess is evident, averaging 2.33 goals per game in this competition compared to Rijeka's 0.8. Franculino Djú is a key figure for Midtjylland, leading the team with two goals and one assist in two appearances, making him a dual threat in attack. Defensively, Midtjylland benefit from the contributions of S. Johannesen and M. Bech, who provide both solidity and occasional goal threat. Rijeka will need to be at their best defensively to keep Midtjylland at bay, but the visitors' momentum and clinical edge suggest a narrow away win.
Key facts
- 1.FC Midtjylland have won all 3 matches in this competition, scoring 7 and conceding 2.
- 2.HNK Rijeka have played 5 matches with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in this competition.
- 3.Midtjylland won the previous knockout meeting against Rijeka 2-0 at home.
- 4.Franculino Djú leads Midtjylland with 2 goals and 1 assist in 2 appearances this season.
- 5.Midtjylland have kept 2 clean sheets in their last 3 wins in this competition.
- 6.Rijeka average 0.8 goals per game compared to Midtjylland's 2.33 in this competition.
- 7.No confirmed injuries reported for either team ahead of this fixture.
- 8.The predicted total number of cards in the match is 4.
Prediction
The prediction is a 1-0 victory for FC Midtjylland. While the margin is slim, Midtjylland's superior scoring form and recent clean sheets give them the slight advantage. The match is expected to be tight and tactical, with limited goals and a few cards likely, but ultimately Midtjylland should come out on top.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — HNK Rijeka
No standout top scorers flagged for HNK Rijeka
Away — FC Midtjylland
The verdict
This playoff round clash is finely balanced but leans towards an away win for Midtjylland. Rijeka will fight hard, but Midtjylland's attacking threats and recent form make them the favourites to progress with a narrow 1-0 win.
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Adu-Adjei
Assist: Oreč
Lasickas
Yellow Card
Iheanacho
Assist: Wätjen
Erlić
Janković
Wätjen
Bech
Yellow Card
Osorio
Assist: Castillo
Jensen
Assist: Kristensen
Osorio
Iheanacho
Vignato
Adu-Adjei
Puljić
Yellow Card
Majstorović
Yellow Card
Cho Gue-Sung
Assist: Johannesen
Billing
Fruk
Pavic
Match Statistics
HNK Rijeka
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 4N. JankovićM
- 6B. PavicM
- 10T. FrukM
- 18D. Adu-AdjeiF
- 19S. VignatoM
- 22A. OrečD
- 23J. LasickasD
- 26Tiago DantasM
- 45A. MajstorovićD
- 51A. HusicD
- 99A. TodorovićG
Substitutes
- 1V. KovacG
- 3M. ŽivkovićD
- 5A. BarcoM
- 7Y. KabadayıF
- 8I. ĆubelićM
- 11G. RukavinaF
- 13I. VekičG
- 14A. GojakM
- 15Goran GrulovićF
- 21J. PuljićF
- 34M. DevetakD
- 77A. JuričF
FC Midtjylland
4-5-1Starting XI
- 1E. ÓlafssonG
- 3M. JensenD
- 5R. KristensenD
- 6M. ErlićD
- 8P. BillingM
- 11D. OsorioM
- 18S. IheanachoF
- 19P. BravoM
- 21D. CastilloM
- 22M. BechD
- 29K. WätjenM
Substitutes
- 7Franculino DjúF
- 10Cho Gue-SungF
- 13A. GabrielD
- 14E. ChilufyaF
- 15B. Dje Bi DjeD
- 20V. ByskovM
- 25N. BakkerG
- 27S. JohannesenM
- 34N. A. AzizD
- 38Julius EmefileM
- 90F. EtimF
HNK Rijeka
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Adu-Adjei | F | 64 | 7.2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Ante Oreč | D | 89 | 6.9 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| Tiago Dantas | M | 89 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Ante Majstorović(C) | D | 89 | 6.3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
| Aleksa Todorović | G | 89 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Branko Pavić | M | 83 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| Niko Janković | M | 45 | 6.2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 0/1 |
| Samuele Vignato | M | 64 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Toni Fruk | M | 83 | 5.9 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| Anel Husić | D | 89 | 5.6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Justas Lasickas | D | 89 | 5.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/2 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Goran Grulović | F | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Amer Gojak | M | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alfonso Barco | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mladen Devetak | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Igor Vekić | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Moreno Živković | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gabriel Rukavina | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ante Matej Jurić | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Vito Kovač | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ivan Ćubelić | M | 25 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jakov Puljić | F | 25 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Yusuf Kabadayi | F | 44 | 6.2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 0/1 |
FC Midtjylland
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darío Osorio | M | 57 | 7.9 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1/2 |
| Stanley Iheanacho | F | 57 | 7.5 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Denil Castillo | M | 89 | 7.3 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Elías Ólafsson | G | 89 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Magnus Jensen | D | 89 | 7.3 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Rasmus Kristensen(C) | D | 89 | 7.2 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| Philip Billing | M | 82 | 6.9 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3/4 |
| Mads Bech Sørensen | D | 89 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Pedro Bravo | M | 89 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Martin Erlić | D | 31 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kjell Wätjen | M | 45 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/4 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Nordin Bakker | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Edward Chilufya | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Friday Etim | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Valdemar Byskov | M | 7 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Beni Junior | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Julius Emefile | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Abdou Aziz Ndiaye | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gue-sung Cho | F | 32 | 8.0 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Adam Gabriel | D | 58 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1/1 |
| Sofus Johannesen | M | 44 | 7.0 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| Franculino Djú | F | 32 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |