HNK Rijeka and Shelbourne FC get their Europa League qualifying campaign underway when they lock horns in the first leg of their third-round clash at the Stadion Rujevica on Wednesday.
Having both crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers in the second round, Football Whispers takes a look at the chances of both sides placing their foot in the playoff round.
Contents
HNK Rijeka vs Shelbourne FC prediction: Rijeka to come out on top
Key stats
- HNK Rijeka have failed to win their last six European qualifying games, losing three and claiming three draws since a 1-0 victory over Romanian outfit Corvinul Hunedoara in the Europa League second qualifying round in August 2024.
- The Croatian outfit have lost just two of their most recent 10 competitive matches while picking up six wins and two draws since the start of May.
- Shelbourne FC are unbeaten in six of their last seven competitive away games, claiming three wins and four draws since March 30.
- Rijeka are on a run of five straight competitive home matches without defeat, picking up four wins and one draw since April’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Osijek.
Correct score prediction: Rijeka 2-0 Shelbourne
Following their painful exit from the Champions League qualifiers, the goal for Rijeka will be to secure Europa League berth and they will be looking to pick up a vital first-leg advantage on Wednesday.
While we expect Shelbourne to put up a fight, the Croatian outfit boasts a superior and more experienced squad, and we fancy them to come away with the desired result in front of their home crowd.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Rijeka clear favourites by bookies
HOME: 3/10 (1.30) – 76.9%
DRAW: 9/2 (5.50) – 18.2%
AWAY: 17/2 (9.5) – 10.5%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The bookmakers significantly back Rijeka to get the job done in Wednesday’s first leg as they take on an inexperienced Shelbourne side on home turf.
Compared to Shelbourne’s 10.5%, Rijeka boasts a 76.9% win probability, while there is an 18.2% chance of the two teams settling for a share of the spoils at the Stadion Rujevica.
Both sides head into the Europa League qualifiers after crashing out of the Champions League qualifying race in the second round, with Shelbourne losing against Qarabag and Rijeka falling short to Ludogorets.
While we take a deeper look at both teams, you can peek at some of the best Champions League and Europa League qualifying picks and predictions from today’s free football betting tips from Football Whispers.
Most recent H2Hs: First-ever meeting
HNK Rijeka and Shelbourne have never met in the past, and both sides will be looking to begin their head-to-head record on a positive note.
HNK Rijeka preview: Key duo set to miss out
HNK Rijeka kicked off the 2025-26 Croatian HNL campaign on a high as they picked up a dramatic 2-0 victory over Slaven Belupo on Sunday.
With nothing to separate the two sides in normal time and the game well on course to end in a deadlock, Rijeka struck twice in the final three minutes of added time to secure a dramatic victory at the Stadion Rujevica.
Head coach Radomir Dalovic will hope the result on Sunday can offer the needed morale boost ahead of their Europa League qualifying opener, having crashed out of the Champions League qualification race at the hands of Ludogorets.
Having played out a goalless draw in the first leg at the Stadion Rujevica on July 22, Rijeka were left spitting feathers in the return leg eight days later as the Bulgarian powerhouse picked up a 3-1 extra-time victory at the Ludogorets Arena.
Rijeka will head into Wednesday’s crunch tie without the duo of Gabriel Rukavina and 24-year-old striker Toni Fruk, who are suspended after receiving their marching orders in the second leg against Ludogorets.
Predicted lineup: Zlomislic (GK), Devetak, Radeljie, Majstorovic, Orec, Dantas, Jankovic, Petrovic, Ndockyt, Cop, Menalo
Croatia HNL 10/05/25
W
HNK Sibenik
0
HNK Rijeka
1
Croatia HNL 04/05/25
W
HNK Gorica
1
HNK Rijeka
2
Croatia HNL 27/04/25
L
Dinamo Zagreb
1
HNK Rijeka
0
Croatia HNL 23/04/25
L
NK Osijek
2
HNK Rijeka
0
Croatia HNL 19/04/25
L
Istra 1961
2
HNK Rijeka
0
Shelbourne preview: Solid domestic form
Shelbourne turned in a solid team display last Saturday when they picked up a 2-0 victory over 10-man Sligo Rovers in their Irish Premier Division clash at the Showgrounds.
In a game where Englishman Sam Sargeant received his marching orders, Alistair Coote and Sean Boyd scored second-half goals to end Sligo Rovers’ five-game unbeaten run in the league.
Joseph O'Brien’s men have now gone four back-to-back matches without defeat in the league (2W, 2D) and are unbeaten in eight of their last 10 outings, a run which has seen them surge into fifth place in the league table.
Shelbourne ended their 18-year absence from the European qualifiers after clinching the league title last season, but they were dumped out of the Champions League qualifying race after suffering a 4-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Azerbaijan giants Qarabag.
Predicted lineup: Speel (GK), Ledwidge, Norris, Bone, Temple, Chapman, Coyle, Kelly, Martin, McInroy, Odubeko
Republic of Ireland Premier Division 09/05/25
W
St Patricks
1
Shelbourne
2
Republic of Ireland Premier Division 05/05/25
L
Waterford FC
1
Shelbourne
0
Republic of Ireland Premier Division 02/05/25
L
Derry City
2
Shelbourne
0
Republic of Ireland Premier Division 25/04/25
D
Shamrock Rovers
2
Shelbourne
2
Republic of Ireland Premier Division 21/04/25
D
Galway United
2
Shelbourne
2
Players to watch – Duje Cop
With last season’s leading scorer Toni Fruk ruled out due to suspension, veteran striker Duje Cop is expected to shoulder Rijeka’s goalscoring responsibility on Wednesday.
While Cop came off the bench in both legs against Ludogorets, he turned in a solid display after being named in the XI in Sunday’s season curtain-raiser against Slaven Belupo.
The 35-year-old, who joined Rijeka from Lokomotiva Zagreb in January, racked up nine goals and four assists in the HNL last season — only behind Fruk (20) for goal involvements in the league.
Gabriel Rukavina was forced off injured midway through the first half against Belupo, meaning Cop should form the attacking trio with Merveil Ndockyt and 29-year-old Luka Menalo.