Rijeka visits Finnish side Ilves on Thursday in the return leg of the Conference League third qualifying round with a 1:0 lead. Coach Matjaž Kek stresses there will be no calculations, while former player and coach Elvis Scoria warns of key details that could decide the tie.
Rijeka's footballers face a decisive test in European qualifying. In the return leg of the Conference League third qualifying round, they travel to Finland to face Ilves, with the match at Tammelan Stadium in Tampere kicking off at 6 PM Central European Time. Following a 1:0 victory at Rujevica on August 6, courtesy of a goal from Niko Janković, Matjaž Kek's side carries a slender advantage they will look to defend and secure a place in the play-off round.
Rijeka's coach is well aware of the challenge posed by playing on artificial turf. "Artificial turf is a different surface; if Ilves trains and plays on it constantly, it means 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. We won't overthink it, because our artificial turf is completely different from the one in Finland. Again, it's 11 vs. 11, and one training session should be enough to adjust," Kek stated.
The Rijeka strategist does not want his team to dwell on the advantage from the first leg. "We have nothing to calculate; we must show our true colors, the right attitude, and quality. We need to think about the quality of our play and how to score a goal, not about the advantage," Kek emphasized.
He also addressed the threat posed by the Finnish side on home soil. "They've been beating their chests about how they're different at home, how they're a completely different team. I believe that, with their fans behind them, they are a team that looks more forward. They've already managed to overturn deficits in two qualifying rounds, and that should be a sufficient warning for us, but above all, we must focus on ourselves," he added.
Although Rijeka creates a plethora of chances, their finishing remains a topic of discussion in Kvarner. Kek highlights a statistic provided by his analysts. "We create a lot, a lot of chances; my analysts calculated that in two matches we had 55 shots on goal. The players are really working hard in training and giving their all. I'm sure it will pay off," Kek said via the club's official channels.
Regarding the lineup, he confirmed the availability of one key player. "Tiago (Dantas) will definitely play; all others who were doubtful remain in that status," Kek revealed.
Former Rijeka player and coach Elvis Scoria shared his expectations in an interview with Net.hr. He believes Rijeka must be tactically astute and avoid early mistakes.
"I think Rijeka just needs to be competitive, focused, and tactically at the level they've shown in the three European matches they've won, and they need to steer the game in their direction, which would be scoring the first goal. It's crucial to prevent an early goal or a mistake, and then they should be able to tilt the match in their favor," Scoria emphasized.
He added that Ilves, trailing on aggregate, will have to play more openly, which opens up space for Rijeka. "We'll see now when they have to attack or make something happen, how much they can do. Space will open up for Rijeka, both in terms of play, technical-tactical, and psychological aspects, so this could be a completely different match," he commented.
Despite the challenges, Scoria has no doubts about who the favorite is. "Rijeka is a better team than Ilves. I expect a solid Rijeka that will try to control the game through possession and all other elements," he concluded.
You can watch the return leg of the Conference League third qualifying round, Ilves - Rijeka, exclusively on Thursday at 6 PM on RTL and the VOYO platform.
