Europa League 2025-2026: Rijeka-Paok Thessaloniki, the likely lineups

Paok Thessaloniki at Rijeka’s field for the first round of the Europa League playoffs. A double in-or-out challenge worth access to the group stage of the competition and the opportunity to measure themselves against the greats of European soccer.

The first leg match is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 21, at 8:45 p.m. in Croatia, while the return will be played a week later in Thessaloniki.

Rijeka, the protagonist of a convincing start to the season, will rely on the home crowd’s warmth to put the Greeks in trouble and try to build a lead ahead of the return leg.

On the other side, the Paok of Razvan Lucescu wants to confirm the good impressions left in the previous rounds and aims to win a positive result away from home that will allow them to play for qualification in front of their own public.

Probable lineups

Rijeka (4-1-4-1): Zlomislic; Devetak, Radeljic, Majstorovic, Orec; Jankovic; Ndockyt, Fruk, Dantas, Rukavina; Juric.
Coach: Djalovic

Paok Thessaloniki (4-2-3-1): Pavlenka; Baba, Michailidis, Kedziora, Kenny; Meité, Ozdoev; Konstantelias, Ivanusec, Zivkovic; Chalov.
Coach: Lucescu