[UEFA Europa League > Thursday August 28th]

Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday August 28th Sheriff Tiraspol - HNK Rijeka Rijeka will play with their best 11 at the moment and those are best 11 generally, except Krstanovic who is injured (muscle problems). Kvrzic is questionable but his form is such that his absence would not be a big blow. So, Rijeka's squad and formation, something like this (4-5-1): Vargic-Tomecak, Samardzic, Leskovic, Leovac-Kvrzic (Jugovic), Moises, Jajalo, Brezovec, Sharbini (Kvrzic)-Kramaric. I think that tonight's match will be a lot different than the 1st leg. Rijeka will play more defesively and that style of play suit them much more than when the opponent is defending. I don't believe that Sheriff will go va banque, but they need to score a goal or two and not concede. Statistics shows it will be a difficult task to do that: Sheriff scored only 5 goals in 5 matches in their championship, in CL qualifications vs Slovan Bratislava in 2 games they scored only one goal and in the last 2 matches they didn't score even once. It's obvious that they have a real problem up front. But this is football and anything can happen. Rijeka broke theirs 16 consecutive wins in a row record last Sunday but with 8 players that didn't star vs Sheriff one week ago. Yes, refferee was bad (a penalty given to Lokomotiva for faul outside the box and red card for Samardzic), but Rijeka played bad. The players heads were on today's match. I will write similar that I wrote when Rijeka played vs Ferencvaros 2nd leg (the result form the first was identical): if Rijeka score first - it's over. If Sheriff scores first it could be everything. One thing to consider: Rijeka vs the last 11 opponents in knock-out system (EL last year qualifications, Croatian Cup, this year qualifications) never went out. In this 11 events they always brought the advantage from the 1st leg, always. The odds are surprisingly high for Sheriff to qualify: 5,00! Only 1,16-1,20 Rijeka. I suggest to bet live on this.

[Croatia 2014/15]

Re: Croatia 2014/15 Lokomotiva - Rijeka Rijeka on fire, but today will for sure be some important changes. Some players need rest and in 4 days is very important match vs Sheriff in Moldova. Lokomotiva concieded 14 goals in the last 4 games. If we look at the statistics Rijeka should win. Rijeka already played in Kranjceviceva stadium (for this season this stadium will be Lokomotivas's for domestic matches) and easily won vs Zagreb. Lokomotiva's coach Ivkovic for sure knows that if you want to give problems to Rijeka, you need to park the bus but Lokomotiva doesn't know hot to do this, at least not good. I will wait for the Rijeka's line-up and decide... Osijek - Hajduk Hajduk coach Tudor says that he will rest some players today for the big match against Dnipro at Thursday. Traditionally, Hajduk is not good at Gradski vrt. Osijek is IMHO better than the table shows. Yes, Hajduk looks great but: 1) short squad, 2)many matches in a little period of time and 3)the absence of some important players... For me, 1X would be good bet. Dinamo Zagreb - Zagreb Dinamo will win. For me, Zagreb as ex 2nd league team is the worst in the league. Yes, they won vs Lokomotiva but that match wasn't fair. They took 1 point from this season very weak Zadar after 2 penalties. Zagreb plays nice to watch but that's it. Dinamo wants to stay at 1st position, Rijeka this season looks very dangerous for them and in this league lost of 2 points now and then can be fatal. Clear win for Dinamo, probably in hcp. Good luck.

[UEFA Europa League > August 20th & 21st]

Re: UEFA Europa League > Thursday August 21st Rijeka - Sheriff Rijeka will probably play in 4-4-2 formation: Vargic-Tomecak, Samardzic, Leskovic, Leovac-Kvrzic, Brezovec, Jajalo, Jugovic (Sharbini)-Kramaric, Krstanovic (Jahovic). Rijeka with 15 wins in a row (official matches, including finish of the last season) is playing great. The team is well organised, well balanced and the players are well coordinated. Also, the mentality brought by coach Kek is german. They play with confidence, the players play for each other, like a real team, there's no stars. Physically, they are prepared very good, they crush the opponents in (weak) CRO league. The team has some small problems with the injured players, but those players are off the pitch several months (Mocinic, Males, Knezevic...). The players are rested. I must point put one player: Kramaric. He will be on national team list for sure. For me, he's the best attacker that Croatia has after Mandzukic. He is Dinamo Zagreb ex-youth player. One big thing to consider: Samardzic, ex Sheriff player and captain (4 years in Sheriff) is a new Rijeka's player. He signed 40 days ago. He really can tell what are the defincies in Moldovian team. Sheriff? I don't know much about them. 12 Brazilians, Portuguese players, with very few domestic. Their statistic this season is not good: 2-1-1 in domestic league, 5-4 goal difference, 2 victories in CL qualifications vs Sutjeska (Montenegro) before they've been kicked out vs Slovan Bratislava. I will try do estimate their quality: in the last years they played 3 times vs Dinamo Zagreb: 2 times they were easily kicked out and one time they manage to pass. But, that Dinamo was weak. Why? That summer Dinamo suffered the last defeat at home in HNL - Rijeka beat them and coach Zajec has been sacked. They lost the best player this summer, just few days ago, Henrique Luvannor (he was pronounced the best player in Moldavian league for the last season). Also, they will play without Blanco who has given a red card vs Slovan. Interesting thing: few days ago Zoran Zekic was installed as coach (ex youth squad Sheriff coach). Who is he? He's ex Rijeka's attacker (only 1 goal in many matches :D). So... Rijeka in front of their crowd, stadium will be full or near full, in great moment vs Sheriff who is not playing very well but has very good players (from Vitoria or Braga for example). Sheriff has more european experience but also has Rijeka, both teams played in the EL groups last year. Weather? The prognose is not good, it will heavily rain at Thursday but when the match starts the rain should stop. As a Rijeka's fan I tried to give you the most objective impression I could ;).