Elfsborg take Rijeka at the Boras Arena in a Europa League 3nd Round qualification second-leg fixture on Thursday, 15 August. View our Europa League betting tips for the contest below.
Contents
- 1 Elfsborg vs Rijeka prediction: Swedes to complete the job?
- 2 Pre-game odds and win probability: Elfsborg are even-money favourites
- 3 Most recent H2Hs: Teams braced for second encounter
- 4 Elfsborg preview: Suspended Abdullai a big miss
- 5 Rijeka preview: Visitors could be unchanged
- 6 Player to watch – Michael Baidoo
Elfsborg vs Rijeka prediction: Swedes to complete the job?
Key Stats
- Both teams found the net in last week’s first-leg tie between Elfsborg and Rijeka in Croatia.
- Elfsborg have won five of their last six home assignments in all competitions.
- Elfsborg were ahead at half time in five of their last six home matches.
- Elfsborg notched twice in each of their last two home fixtures.
Correct score prediction: Elfsborg 2-1 Rijeka
Elfsborg managed to find the net twice in each of their last two home games and they have the firepower and form at the Boras Arena to bag another brace on Thursday. Elfsborg have kept just one clean sheet in four attempts at home however, and Rijeka could net a consolation.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Elfsborg are even-money favourites
- HOME: 21/20 (2.05) – 48.8%
- DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
- AWAY: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Elfsborg left Croatia with a 1-1 draw after last week’s first leg, despite playing with ten men for the majority of the second half and with much of the heavy lifting done, they look generously priced at 1-1 to complete the job against Rijeka in Sweden. The visitors have been off the boil on the road so far this season and at odds of 13/5 to win on Thursday, their chances of prevailing seem slim. For more of our latest Europa League predictions, check out our football tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: Teams braced for second encounter
Elfsborg and Rijeka met for the first time ever in last week’s first leg in Croatia, so they have gone from being strangers to familiar foes in the space of seven days ahead of this week’s return fixture.
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 08/08/24
HNK Rijeka
Elfsborg
Elfsborg preview: Suspended Abdullai a big miss
Jalal Abdullai had an eventful first leg for Elfsborg last week. The winger opened the scoring for the Swedes in Croatia before he was sent off in the second half and he will sit out this week's second encounter due to his subsequent suspension. Per Frick could replace him in the XI.
Predicted lineup: Petterson (GK), Holmen, Henriksson, Yegbe, Hedlund, Baldursson, B. Zeneli, Hult. A. Zeneli, Frick, Baidoo
Sweden Allsvenskan 01/09/24
D
Brommapojkarna
3
Elfsborg
3
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 29/08/24
W
Molde
1
Elfsborg
0
Sweden Allsvenskan 25/08/24
W
IFK Goteborg
1
Elfsborg
3
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 22/08/24
W
Molde
0
Elfsborg
1
Sweden Allsvenskan 18/08/24
D
Mju00e4llby AIF
1
Elfsborg
1
Rijeka preview: Visitors could be unchanged
Rijeka Head Coach Zeljko Sopic set his team up in a 4-1-4-1 formation in last week's first leg, so expect the Croatians to use a similar tactical shape in Sweden. Rijeka were held to a 1-1 draw at Varazdin at the weekend in the HNL.
Predicted lineup: Zlomislic (GK), Smolcic, Galesic, Radeljic, Cabraja, Petrovic, Pasalic, Hodza, Fruk, Jankovic, Ivanovic
Croatia HNL 01/09/24
D
Dinamo Zagreb
1
HNK Rijeka
1
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 29/08/24
L
Olimpija Ljubljana
5
HNK Rijeka
0
Croatia HNL 25/08/24
W
NK Osijek
0
HNK Rijeka
2
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 22/08/24
D
Olimpija Ljubljana
1
HNK Rijeka
1
Croatia HNL 18/08/24
W
Istra 1961
0
HNK Rijeka
4
Player to watch – Michael Baidoo
Michael Baidoo failed to make much of an impact in last week’s first leg for Elfsborg, though the Ghanaian strike was in much better fettle at the weekend when he scored in the Allsvenskan against GAIS.
Baidoo is useful in the final third
Baidoo has already notched six times in the league this season for Elfsborg and he has also made his mark in the Europa League, netting twice for the Swedes in the competition’s qualifiers over the summer. The 25-year-old scored in each of his last two appearances at the Boras Arena and his good form at that venue should make him worth watching again this week.
