HNK Rijeka
- HNK Rijeka have won three of their last five and are on a three-game winning streak heading into the home leg.
- Matjaz Kek has HNK Rijeka set up in an organized and aggressive way, with a back four who know their positions and a high press.
- Across all competitions, they have won five, drawn three and lost two of their last ten, a steadier record than Ilves Tampere's 4-2-4 in the same span.
Ilves Tampere
- Ilves are on a two-game winning streak and have won four of their last five.
- Ilves have been in good form since Camilo Speranza took the reigns on 6th July 2026, turning the Finnish side into a compact, fight-first team who are very tough to break down.
- Their style is to keep it simple out of possession, keeping a low block and a solid back four with men over the ball in transition, preferring a direct pass in behind to a long period on the ball.
- Speranza's side have scored an average of 1.33 goals per game on their travels this season, but they have conceded an average of 1.67 per game.
Key Players
Jardell Kanga tops the scoring for Ilves with one in four Conference League Qualification 2026 appearances, but he has been their creative spark with three assists in the Finns' last five, scoring one goal.
Betting Insights
- HNK Rijeka are the bookies' clear favorites to win Thursday's UEFA Conference League Qualification 2026 game against Finland's Ilves Tampere at 1.55, with the Finns on 5.8 and the draw coming in at 3.9.
- The value is obviously in Ilves Tampere, and they will fancy themselves to grab a result in the first leg in Croatia if they can hold out for a draw and keep it close.
- The best odds on the board here are Under 2.5 at 1.85 and BTTS-No at 1.78, with Rijeka's home record (W3, D1, L1 from five games in all competitions) suggesting the hosts should win a close, strategic game.
Prediction
The Croatian side have the better set-up for this kind of match-up and should win.
