Read our prediction for FC Copenhagen (Den) vs Rijeka (Cro) below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between FC Copenhagen (Den) vs Rijeka (Cro) and you can increase your winnings!
FC Copenhagen (Den) vs Rijeka (Cro) Prediction & Betting tips
Just a month and a half ago, FC Copenhagen reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The Danes took part in the final tournament in Germany and were almost able to cause a big surprise when they were 0-0 against favorite Manchester United after 90 minutes. In the end, however, the lions lost in overtime. Now a new attempt should be made with a win in the playoffs against HNK Rijeka.
However, HNK Rijeka have also made it into the group stage of the UEFA Europa League three times. The Croatians have never survived this intact, but they have gained a lot of international experience. What speaks against Simon Rozman’s squad, however, is that Rijeka mainly has its strengths in its own stadium and has lost all competitive games away from the 2020/21 season.
Most recently, Rijeka trembled at home against Kolos Kovalivka after 90 goalless minutes only in extra time into the playoffs. Because the Danes also played to zero in the meantime and have a good defense, the tip “Both teams score: No” seems to us at FC Copenhagen against Rijeka to be the best choice in this Danish-Croatian duel.
FC Copenhagen:
FC Copenhagen has even successfully qualified for the UEFA Champions League five times. In 2010/11, the lions even survived the group stage and reached the round of 16.
In the Europa League there have already been eight participations, although the best result to date has only been achieved this summer with the quarter-finals. Copenhagen could well have used the overall victory. As runners-up, the white-blue team finally had to give Midtjylland the only Danish place in the Champions League qualification.
After a 2-1 away win in Gothenburg and a much clearer 3-0 home win over Piast Gliwice, Copenhagen has so far made the best of their position in the qualifying rounds for the Europa League. The Lions are still missing a victory to book the ticket for the group stage.
In the run-up to the game between FC Copenhagen and Rijeka, the odds speak for the 13-time Danish champions. The team of Stale Solbakken is thus favored.
However, a lot is at stake for the Lions. The good result in the two qualifying rounds has so far been accompanied by a high price. Copenhagen is still waiting for the first three after three league games in the Superligaen.
Only one of nine possible points is available with a goal difference of 5: 7. The mortgage with which the white-blue go into the rest of the season must now be balanced with the ticket for the preliminary round of the second most important European competition for club teams. The pressure is correspondingly great.
Rijeka:
While Copenhagen recently paid the price for the demanding games in the Europa League in national football, HNK Rijeka benefits from the full support of the Croatian association. After the important league match against Hajduk Split had already been postponed in favor of the third round match against Kolos Kovalivka, the next match was postponed last weekend.
Instead of having to go into an exhausting match away at Dinamo Zagreb, the Riječki bijeli (in German: the whites from Rijeka) were given the second free play in order to be able to concentrate fully on this important match in the playoffs.
This means that the team from the Croatian town of Haften will go into this decisive away game in Copenhagen, in which Simon Rozman’s side will have to get their weakness under control.
The whites played four league games in the 1st HNL. If they had wins in their home games against Sibenik and Istra, both Lokomotiva Zagreb and NK Osijek were lost away from home, with the reigning Croatian Cup winner without a goal. That also speaks in favor of playing the tip “BTS: No” against Rijeka at FC Copenhagen.
It is also bitter that coach Simon Rozman suffered three offensive attacks in this important game. In addition to playmaker Tibor Halilovic, the two strikers Sterling Yatéké and Milan Ristovski are also missing.
So the signs of successfully qualifying for the group stage of the Europa League for the fourth time are not too good. A year ago, Rijeka also failed in the playoffs to Gent. Here, too, it was a 2-1 away defeat that sealed the fate of the Croatians.