Rijeka defends their 1:0 lead against Ilves in the 3rd qualifying round of the Conference League on Thursday at Tammelan Stadium. Coach Matjaž Kek says his team must not think about the advantage, but focus on the quality of play and scoring goals.
Rijeka's footballers will face Finnish side Ilves on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in the return leg of the 3rd qualifying round for the Conference League. The match will be played in Tampere at Tammelan Stadium, starting at 6 PM Central European Time, with Rijeka carrying a narrow 1:0 advantage from the first leg. The winner of this tie will secure a spot in the play-off round, where they will likely face Danish side Midtjylland, coached by Martin Erlić, while the loser will see their European campaign come to an end.
Rijeka's coach Matjaž Kek is aware that his team is in a favorable position but stresses that there can be no complacency. "An advantage is an advantage, and it should have been bigger, but Thursday's match showed that Ilves can be very tricky if we're not at our best, if we're not tactically disciplined," Kek said ahead of the trip to Finland. He added that the Finns have been "beating their chests" after the first match, claiming they are a completely different team at home, which serves as a sufficient warning given that they have already overturned deficits in the previous two qualifying rounds.
The Slovenian tactician at the helm of Rijeka demands maximum effort and a clear focus on attack from his players. "We have nothing to calculate; we must show our true face, the right attitude, and quality. We must think about the quality of play and how to score a goal, not about the advantage," Kek said. He also emphasized that Europe offers no second chances and that Thursday's match will decide who advances.
One of the main talking points after the first match in Rijeka was the artificial surface on which the return leg will be played. Kek admits it gives the home side an advantage but refuses to let it become an alibi for his team.
"Artificial turf is a different surface; if Ilves trains and plays on it constantly, it's easier for them. We went on Sunday to watch the match and the conditions awaiting us; we simply need one training session to adapt," said Rijeka's coach. He added that he won't dwell on the topic too much because the artificial turf in Croatia also differs from that in Finland. "Again, it's 11 vs. 11, and one training session should be enough to adapt," Kek concluded.
Rijeka had two extra days to recover due to the postponement of the league derby against Dinamo, but some players are dealing with injuries. Kek confirmed that Tiago Dantas will definitely play, while others who were doubtful remain in contention for the lineup. He also addressed the concerning finishing in the first leg, noting that his analysts calculated the team had 55 shots on goal over two matches. "We create a lot, a lot of chances. We're working hard, the players are really putting in the effort in training and giving their all. I'm sure it will pay off," Kek said.
