Strasbourg vs Rijeka – News and Probable Lineups

Strasbourg will take on HNK Rijeka on Thursday at Stade de la Meinau in Alsace, with a spot in the Conference League quarter-finals on the line.

Last week’s first leg saw the French outfit secure a narrow 2-1 victory, keeping their unbeaten record in this competition intact.

Match overview

Although many of their wins have been by slim margins, Strasbourg keeps managing to pull through, having clinched their fifth away victory in the Conference League this season by a single goal last week.

Gary O’Neil’s squad heads into this fixture on a seven-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, having conceded just one goal in their last three games.

A win or draw on Thursday would be sufficient for them to reach the last eight of a European competition for the first time since their appearance in the 1979-80 European Cup.

Strasbourg hasn’t lost in their last five competitive matches at Stade de la Meinau, winning two of their three home games during the League Phase.

Le Racing has allowed only a goal or fewer in each of those fixtures, conceding multiple goals in just one home game all year, against Paris Saint-Germain when they lost 2-1.

This team has not dropped any points in the Conference League this season when leading at halftime, even though they have scored just one first-half goal at home in this tournament.

While Rijeka proved to be challenging opponents in the first leg, they fell just short, managing only a late consolation goal.

On Thursday, they must secure a victory to keep their hopes alive for progressing to the quarter-finals of a major European tournament for the first time since the 1979-80 Cup Winners’ Cup.

Victor Sanchez’s side enters this crucial match on the back of two consecutive defeats across all competitions, including a 2-0 loss at home to Istra 1961 on Sunday.

The Croatian team has dropped points in three of their last four away games in the competition this season but did win their most recent one at Omonia in the knockout phase (1-0).

An encouraging aspect is that they have not conceded more than one goal in a Conference League away match this season, earning clean sheets in two of those fixtures.

However, they have never triumphed in a European match on French soil, with previous losses at Lille and Lyon by a single goal.

Team News

Emmanuel Emegha is uncertain for Strasbourg on Thursday due to a muscle strain, while Diego Moreira has a groin injury, Maxi Oyedele is dealing with a knock, Aaron Anselmino is questionable because of a hamstring problem and Guela Doue will be suspended.

Joaquin Panichelli and Martial Godo each scored for the team in the first leg of this tie, with the latter netting his goal with less than 20 minutes left.

A hamstring injury kept Teo Barisic sidelined for the first leg, and he remains doubtful for Thursday.

Ante Majstorovic cut their deficit with a goal 14 minutes from the end, but he will miss this match after receiving another yellow card.

Strasbourg probable starting XI:

Penders; Doukoure, Hogsberg, Chilwell; Omobamidele, V. Barco, El Mourabet, Ouattara; Nanasi, Enciso; Panichelli

HNK Rijeka probable starting XI:

Zlomislic; Orec, Husic, Radeljic, Devetak; Petrovic, A. Barco, Dantas, Gojak; Adu-Adjei, Fruk

Despite Rijeka’s strong defensive record, they must take the initiative and seek the win, while Strasbourg is adept at sitting back and waiting for the right moment to launch counterattacks, having secured numerous victories this way this season.