Predictions Champions League - Corvinul Hunedoara vs HNK Rijeka

Champions League - Corvinul Hunedoara vs HNK Rijeka
Match Time: 26-07-2024 00:00 Friday (GMT+7)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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The 2023-24 campaign was one of disappointment for Rijeka, most notably on the domestic front as they finished runners-up in the top flight and lost the Croatian Cup final.

Furthermore, they missed out in the playoff round of the Europa Conference League, and it has left Zeljko Sopic and his squad motivated to right some wrongs.

Rijeka have not reached the group stage of this competition since 2019-20, where they collected four points from six games against Napoli, Real Sociedad and AZ Alkmaar.

That will be their aim this time around, yet they will guarantee a minimum of a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs should they come through this tie as expected.

Last Wednesday, Rijeka went down to Red Bull Salzburg by a 1-0 scoreline in a pre-season friendly, Sopic likely to be satisfied with their efforts in that contest.

Meanwhile, Corvinhul Hunedoara caused a major upset in the previous round as they upstaged Hungarian outfit PAKS by a 4-2 aggregate scoreline.

Although one of the minnows of the competition went down 2-0 in the second leg, winning the away first leg 4-0 proved decisive as they won just their second-ever European tie.

What made that success so impressive is Corvinhul being a second-tier side in Romania, their ownership situation preventing them from playing top-flight football.

Nevertheless, with a second-placed finish and a domestic cup win in 2023-24, the Ravens - managed by Florin Maxim - should not be ruled out just yet as they bid to create history.

Prediction: Corvinul Hunedoara 1-2 HNK Rijeka