Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Rijeka
Match Time & Date:
21 August 2025
19:45
Prediction: 1-1
PAOK
Thursday’s Europa League game at Stadion HNK Rijeka pits together Rijeka and PAOK, the two teams that faced each other in the Conference League qualifiers four years ago. Back then PAOK eliminated Rijeka in the double-header, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge. Defender Ante Orec is banned for the first leg, while there are no fresh injury worries in the home team. Experienced forward Duje Cop is pushing for a start after coming as a substitute in a heart-breaking 2-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb at the weekend.
The Eagles, on the other hand, set up a meeting with Rijeka by beating Wolfsberger after extra-time in the third qualifying round. PAOK aim to give fans yet another reason to celebrate, but with Rijeka being tough to beat at home, we are tempted to place our bets on draw. Guinea midfielder Mady Camara is pushing for a recall to the PAOK starting XI after scoring the winner as a substitute against Wolfsberger. Both Giannis Konstantelias and Magomed Ozdoev are only one yellow card away from suspension.
Highlighted Player (Mbwana Samatta):
Born in Dar Es Salaam on December 23, 1992, Mbwana Samatta is a Tanzania striker who plays for Genk in the Belgian Jupiler League. Samatta began his youth career at African Lyon and he played his first game at senior level for Simba SC, the club from his homeland.
In 2011 he moved to TP Mazembe and after scoring 60 goals in 103 league games for the club, the Tanzania international signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Genk. On August 23, 2018 Samatta scored a hat-trick against Brondby in the Europa League.
Speaking of his international debut, Samatta made his Tanzania debut in March, 2011 in a 2-1 win over Central African Republic. It has to be noted that the Genk attacker was named African Player of the Year (based in Africa) in 2015. His main position is centre-forward, but is capable of playing as a winger as well. His contract with Genk should expire on June 30, 2020.
Highlighted Team (Rijeka):
Founded on July 29, 1946 as Sportsko Drustvo Kvarner, Rijeka are a Croatian football club that have always been in Dinamo Zagreb’s shadow. Dinamo are undisputedly the biggest football club in Croatia, but Rijeka did well to put an end to their dominance in the HNL in the 2016/2017 season.
The Rijecki bijeli won their first ever domestic trophy and, as a result, they made it to the Champions League qualifiers. However, Greek champions Olympiacos proved to be a big catch for Matjaz Kek’s troops in the play-offs for the group stages of the elite competition.
Before the breakup of Yugoslavia Rijeka won two domestic cups (1977/1978, 1978/1979) and it has to be noted that they clinched their fourth Croatian Cup title in 2017, with the team beating Dinamo Zagreb in the final of the competition. Rijeka welcome their rivals at Stadion Rujevica and the capacity of the stadium is 8.279. The venue was opened in August 2, 2015.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Dynamo Kyiv 
Zrinjski 
Utrecht 
Lausanne 
Besiktas 
Lech Poznan 
Genk 
Aberdeen 
FCSB 
Lincoln Red Imps 
Braga 
