Liam Duckstein
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Rijeka host Midtjylland at Stadion Rujevica on 27 August in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League 2026/27 Playoff tie. The Danish side already hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, which puts Matjaz Kek’s side in a very difficult position at home. Rijeka need to score at least twice without reply to force extra time, and three goals without conceding to go through in 90 minutes. That makes this one of the more lopsided second legs of the round, with Midtjylland simply needing to avoid a historic collapse to advance.
Keep an eye on Sofus Johannesen for Midtjylland, who has registered three goals and three assists across the last six matches and looks like the most dangerous creative force in Mike Tullberg’s side. For Rijeka, Alfonso Barco has been busy with the ball and carries a disciplinary risk after collecting three yellow cards, so his influence on the game could be cut short if he is not careful.
A hot stat worth flagging: Midtjylland have racked up 101 free kicks across their last five matches, more than double Rijeka’s 53. That level of aggression in winning set-piece situations has translated directly into attacking opportunities, and Valdemar Byskov Andreasen has already converted one of those directly.
| 🏆 Tournament: | UEFA Conference League 2026/27 – Playoffs |
| 🏟 Venue: | Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka |
| 🗓️ Date: | 27.08.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 20:45 CEST |
Rijeka vs Midtjylland Prediction
Midtjylland enter this second leg with a clean 2-0 cushion and a 75% win rate over the last 30 days. They have been the more productive side across every key metric in recent fixtures, and they do not need to take risks here. Tullberg’s team is likely to sit with their shape, absorb early pressure, and hit Rijeka on the break. Rijeka, forced to attack, will leave space behind, and that suits Midtjylland perfectly.
Rijeka have scored just five goals across their last five matches and conceded seven. Their 54% pass accuracy in those games is noticeably lower than Midtjylland’s 81%, which reflects a real quality gap in possession play. Rijeka do commit a reasonable number of fouls, averaging around 12 per game across the sample, and their disciplined backline has not been tested by a team of this quality in recent weeks. Midtjylland, with 102 fouls in five games, are physical and press high, which could disrupt Rijeka’s attempts to build out from the back.
We predict Midtjylland to score at least once and progress comfortably. The Danes’ ability to win the ball back quickly and transition fast makes them dangerous even in a game where they are not chasing the result. Rijeka’s attacking output has been modest, and with the tie already in hand, Midtjylland’s defensive organization will be tight.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Midtjylland to score in both halves |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 9.5 |
Team Analysis
Rijeka have shown some fight in domestic competition over the past month, winning four of their last seven games. Their most recent outing was a 3-2 win over Istra 1961 in the Croatian league, a positive result but one against a side ranked significantly below Conference League standard. Before that, they fell 0-2 to Midtjylland in the first leg, and 0-2 to Varazdin in the league. The pattern is clear: against top opposition, Rijeka struggle to get on the scoresheet. Their five goals across the last five matches came largely against lower-ranked Croatian sides.
Midtjylland are in strong form. Six wins from their last eight games, including a 1-0 win over Randers FC in their most recent Superliga fixture before this second leg. They drew 1-1 with Lyngby and beat Bohemians twice, 3-2 and 2-0, in the Europa Conference qualifying rounds. The 2-0 win over Rijeka in the first leg was controlled from start to finish, and their squad depth is evident from the fact that multiple players across different positions are contributing goals and assists consistently.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | Rijeka | Midtjylland |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 2 |
🚨Check out our dedicated Rijeka vs Midtjylland stats page for more info.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Midtjylland the favourite
- Moneyline Rijeka 2.85 | Midtjylland 2.34
- Draw 3.35
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
The bookmakers price Midtjylland as favourites at around 2.34, which reflects both the first-leg result and their superior form. Rijeka at 2.85 is not outrageous given they are at home, but the tie context makes a Rijeka win in 90 minutes largely irrelevant unless they score three or more. The draw at 3.35 represents the scenario where Rijeka win the first leg deficit partially but not fully. To be honest, the value here is on Midtjylland, whose odds account for a genuine need to manage the game rather than win it outright, yet their quality suggests they will likely add to their tally anyway.
Possible Starting Lineups
Rijeka Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Aleksa Todorovic
- DF: Ante Majstorović, Ante Orec, Mladen Devetak
- MF: Alfonso Barco, Branko Pavic, Niko Janković, Tiago Dantas, Ivan Cubelic
- FW: Jakov Puljić, D. Adu-Adjei
Rijeka have been consistent with their 3-5-2 shape, and Kek is unlikely to abandon it even with the tie demanding goals. Aleksa Todorovic has been the regular starter in goal across all six tracked matches. The back three of Majstorović, Orec, and Devetak provides the defensive base. Tiago Dantas has two assists and strong pass accuracy, making him the creative anchor in midfield. Jakov Puljić leads the line with one goal and seven shots in recent games, and he is the most likely source of a breakthrough for the home side.
Midtjylland Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Elías Rafn Ólafsson
- DF: Rasmus Kristensen, Mads Bech Sørensen, Martin Erlic, Magnus Jensen
- MF: Philip Billing, Pedro Bravo
- FW: Dario Osorio, Sofus Johannesen, Valdemar Byskov Andreasen, Franculino Gluda Dju
Tullberg’s preferred 4-2-3-1 sets up with Elías Rafn Ólafsson in goal, who has made nine saves in recent games and kept a clean sheet in the first leg. Rasmus Kristensen has played all 540 minutes across the five-match sample and is a reliable presence at right back. Philip Billing anchors the midfield with 281 passes and strong interception numbers. Sofus Johannesen, operating in the attacking midfield role, is the standout name to watch. Three goals and three assists in this run of form make him a constant threat, and Rijeka’s midfield will need to track him closely.
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Midtjylland. Source: Official Website
TipsGG Match Prediction
Midtjylland arrive at Stadion Rujevica with a two-goal lead, better form, better stats across every attacking and defensive category, and a squad that has been scoring freely against quality opposition. Rijeka need a near-perfect performance to turn this tie around, and their recent record against stronger sides does not support that happening.
We predict Midtjylland to score at least once and progress to the Conference League group stage. Rijeka may grab a consolation goal given the open nature the game will take on, which makes Both Teams to Score an interesting angle. The Danes’ 91 shots and 39 interceptions across five games compared to Rijeka’s 75 and 28 tells you where the quality gap lies. Midtjylland to score in both halves at a reasonable price is our preferred bet for this one.
