Ilves vs HNK Rijeka: Conference League second leg preview
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Ilves welcome HNK Rijeka to their usual Ratinan Stadion home in Tampere on 13 August 2026 for the decisive second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round. The tie hangs in the balance following the first leg in Croatia a week earlier, with the aggregate winner progressing to the play-off round later this month.
Ilves Form Guide and Home Hopes
Ilves approach the return leg needing a significant upturn in form. Jarkko Wiss’s side sit ninth in the Veikkausliiga after 18 rounds, five points adrift of the championship group, and suffered a 2‑1 Finnish Cup semi‑final defeat to HJK. Their Conference League campaign was kept alive only by a penalty shootout victory over Stjarnan in the previous round after two tight draws.
Discipline has been a persistent issue – no fewer than six red cards were brandished in Ilves’ last nine matches across all competitions. Combined with a run of conceding in five of their past six outings, the Finns will need to be far more compact against a ruthless Rijeka attack.
One bright spot is the expected return of striker Santeri Hytönen, who leads a 1‑3‑4‑2‑1 system. Creative support from Kilo and Kanga on the flanks will be vital if the hosts are to overturn any first‑leg deficit.
Rijeka’s Winning Momentum
Rijeka travel to Finland on an extraordinary run of eight consecutive victories, having kept seven clean sheets in their last nine matches. Radomir Đalović’s men dismantled Derry City 2‑0 in the second qualifying round and arrive in Tampere brimming with confidence.
The Croatian outfit may have slipped to fourth in the HNL last term – 33 points behind champions Dinamo Zagreb – and lost the cup final to the same opponents, but their current form is formidable. A fluid 1‑1‑4‑2‑3‑1 shape, built around midfielders Toni Fruk and Amer Gojak, provides the ammunition for Ghanaian forward Samuel Adjei, who will look to add to his European tally.
Key Battle: Ilves’ Attack vs Rijeka’s Defensive Solidity
The central question is whether Ilves can pierce a Rijeka backline that has conceded only twice in their last nine contests. Centre‑backs Barko and Majstorović, shielded by defensive midfielder Dantaš, have forged a disciplined unit that rarely gifts chances.
For Ilves, Hytönen must be clinical with the limited service he is likely to receive, while the wing‑back pairing of Vallius and Patterson may be forced into more defensive duties than they would like. The Finns’ ability to create from set pieces – where Miettunen’s aerial threat stands out – could prove decisive.
Predicted Lineups
Ilves (1‑3‑4‑2‑1): Krkalić – Rale, Väisänen, Miettunen – Vallius, Popović, Multala, Patterson – Kilo, Kanga – Hytönen.
HNK Rijeka (1‑1‑4‑2‑3‑1): Todorović – Devetak, Barko, Majstorović, Oreč – Dantaš, Pavlin – Janković, Fruk, Gojak – Adjei.
What’s at Stake
The winner of this two‑legged tie will advance to the Conference League play‑off round, one step away from the group stage. For Ilves, a comeback would mark a historic continental run; for Rijeka, progressing is the expected minimum after their recent European pedigree.
Ilves must harness the febrile atmosphere of their Tampere fortress and find a way to become the first team in nine attempts to beat Rijeka, or their Conference League journey will end at the final qualifying hurdle.
