Rijeka heads to Derry City for Conference League second leg
Croatian club HNK Rijeka will travel to Derry City for the second‑leg encounter of the UEFA Europa Conference League second‑round qualifiers, holding a 1‑0 advantage from the first match. The fixture, scheduled for Thursday at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, marks Rijeka’s first competitive meeting with a team from Northern Ireland.
Coach Matjaž Kek stressed the need to protect the slim lead, saying, "We must show character with our guard and body language," and warned that the minimal margin does not allow any relaxation. He praised Derry City as a disciplined side with a “strong character and positive cheekiness.” Rijeka’s recent European record stands at 47 wins, 34 draws and 46 defeats, with a goal difference of 164‑151. Forward Toni Fruk, who scored the lone goal in the first leg, becomes only the fourth Rijeka player to exceed 2,000 minutes in European competition.
The club aims to extend its lead and secure progression to the next stage of the tournament.
Entities: Derry City · Derry City FC · HNK Rijeka · Matjaž Kek · Northern Ireland · Rijeka · Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium · Toni Fruk · UEFA Europa Conference League
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Rijeka will play Derry City at Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium on Thursday as the second leg of the UEFA Conference League second‑qualifying round. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rijeka hold a 1‑0 advantage from the first leg, with Toni Fruk scoring the only goal. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rijeka’s coach Matjaž Kek previously guided Maribor to a Champions League qualifier win in Northern Ireland. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ivan Tomečak and Zoran Kvržić each have 38 European appearances for Rijeka, the club record. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] This match is Rijeka’s first competitive encounter in Northern Ireland. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rijeka’s historical European record is 47 wins, 34 draws, 46 defeats, with a goal difference of 164‑151. (new)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Coach Matjaž Kek said the team must show character and guard the advantage. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Matjaž Kek has overseen 43 European matches as Rijeka’s coach, with a record of 17‑14‑12. (new)