Will the Asprómavri once again prove to be a stumbling block for the Croatians?
It has been four years since PAOK Saloniki prevented HNK Rijeka from advancing to the main round of a European competition. With an aggregate score of 3-1, the Asprómavri (meaning “the black and whites”) eliminated the Croatians in the Conference League playoffs. Four years later, the odds are still in favor of PAOK Saloniki against Rijeka, with the Greeks looking to seal the deal under much more favorable circumstances. The bookmakers agree. For example, the ODDSET app is offering odds of just 1.30 on the “Who will advance?” market when the club with the double-headed eagle on its crest is selected.
Experience also clearly favors Asprómavri, who have already played 162 competitive games in the Europa League and UEFA Cup, with a positive record of 62 wins, 54 losses, and 46 draws. HNK Rijeka, on the other hand, has only played 114 international competitive games (41-30-43) and lost 2-1 at home to underdogs Shelbourne in the last round of the EL qualifiers.
Saturday’s dress rehearsal also went down the drain with a 0-2 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, which is why bettors who are not afraid to take risks could well be tempted by Bet-at-home’s odds of 2.35 for an away win for the Greeks.
Although HNK Rijeka has lost two of its last three international competitive games, the Bijeli (meaning “the whites”) have still scored at least one goal in all three games. However, we must also take into account that the Croatians have conceded at least one goal in all three games – six goals in total. It is therefore not very likely that they will keep a clean sheet against the offensively strong Greeks, which is why we expect a high-scoring first leg in the Croatian port city.
We find the best value in betting on both teams to score, which does not rule out another 1-1 draw, which was the result of the first leg between the two teams four years ago in the ECL playoffs.
Rijeka – PAOK Saloniki Head-to-head record / H2H record
Head to head: 0 – 1 – 1
Almost exactly four years ago to the day, the two teams faced each other on two consecutive Thursdays in the playoffs – back then, however, in the UEFA Conference League. After the first leg in Greece ended in a 1–1 draw, PAOK Saloniki secured their place in the group stage with a 2–0 away win in the Croatian port city.
Rijeka – PAOK Saloniki Tip
The top bookmakers are favoring the visitors in Rijeka against PAOK Saloniki, although the home side will need to improve their attacking play. Wolfsberger AC drew 0-0 in both legs of their Europa League qualifying final, before Asprómavri finally prevailed in extra time in Austria. However, the fact that the Croatians have conceded a total of six goals in their last three international competitive games suggests that they will score in regular time this time around.
In fact, HNK Rijeka have seen goals scored by both sides in their last three European competitive games, two of which they lost. Betting on both teams to score in this first leg of the Europa League playoffs therefore seems to us to be the most logical choice with the greatest value.
For both teams to score in the Croatian port city, the odds for Rijeka against PAOK Saloniki are 1.76, which we are betting on with five units at NEO.bet.
