The return leg of the 2025/26 Conference League play-off tie between Rijeka (Croatia) and Omonia (Cyprus) will take place on 26 February at the Rujevica Stadium. The score in the first leg was 1:0 in favour of Rijeka. Rijeka vs Omonia: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Rijeka
In Nicosia, Rijeka snatched a narrow win right at the very end of the match. Following the trip to Cyprus, the home team extended their unbeaten run in the Conference League to six matches (three wins, three draws). What is particularly impressive is that, with a fair share of luck, the Croatians have conceded just one goal in that spell. Since the November game against Lincoln Red Imps, the club have recorded four straight clean sheets in European competition. Now the hosts simply need to avoid defeat in 90 minutes, and on home soil Rijeka have gone seven Conference League matches without losing (five wins, two draws).
- At least one team failed to score in seven of the Croatians’ last eight Conference League matches.
- At least two goals were scored in eight of the club’s previous 10 home games in this tournament.
- Rijeka have not conceded more than one goal in seven straight home matches in the Conference League.
Potential Rijeka Lineup (3-2-4-1)*
Martin Zlomislic – Ante Majstorovic, Teo Barisic, Mladen Devetak – Alfonso Barco, Mervey Ndockyt – Ante Orec, Justas Lasickas, Toni Fruk, Tiago Dantas – Ante Juric.
Midfielder Dejan Petrovic has served his suspension, but midfielders Mervey Ndockyt and Tornike Morchiladze are now suspended. Defender Mile Skoric will miss the match through injury.
Omonia
After a four-match unbeaten run, Omonia have suffered two straight defeats in the Conference League. On both occasions, the away team failed to score and lost by the same 0:1 scoreline. It is worth noting that those disappointing matches were played on home turf. On the road, the visitors have failed to earn at least a draw in just one of their last six European matches. Ahead of the trip to Croatia, the Cypriots are unbeaten across three away games in the Conference League, although they managed to claim only one narrow win in that stretch. Now, to reach the round of 16 without extra time, Omonia need to beat Rijeka by a margin of at least two goals.
- The team have won with a (+1.5) handicap in 17 consecutive Conference League matches.
- The club have not conceded more than one goal in eight straight matches in this tournament.
- Omonia’s away scoring run in the Conference League stands at seven matches.
Potential Omonia Lineup (4-4-2)*
Fabiano Freitas – Moses Odubajo, Giannis Masouras, Jure Balkovec, Senou Coulibaly – Willy Semedo, Andreas Christou, Carel Eiting, Panagiotis Andreou – Riaan Mmaee, Muamer Tankovic.
Midfielder Mateo Maric has served his suspension. Forward Stevan Jovetic and defender Fotios Kitsos will not be available due to injuries.
Referee
Mykola Balakin (Ukraine)
Matches – 7 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 30;
Yellow cards per match on average – 4.3;
Red cards shown – 0;
Fouls per match on average – 25;
Penalties – 29%.
Rijeka vs Omonia: Match Prediction
The first leg predictably did not deliver many goals, and it is quite possible that we will see a similar picture in Croatia. More than two goals have been scored in only one of Rijeka’s last seven Conference League matches, while in five of those seven games there was a maximum of one goal. The trend is also evident in home fixtures, with five of the club’s last six Conference League matches proving to be low-scoring.
Omonia have not played a high-scoring game in this tournament since August last year, with that run now stretching to eight matches. In the team’s last three European games, everything was decided by a single goal. Omonia’s away matches in the Conference League have generally been more entertaining than their home fixtures, but even here the ceiling in each of the last three games has been two goals.
Prediction: Under 2.5 goals
* For each team, the starting line-up shown is from their previous match in this tournament.
