UEFA Playoff Round Draws:
HNK Rijeka vs. Olympiakos in Champions League
HNK Hajduk Split vs. Éverton in Europa League
GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs. Skenderbeu in Europa League
NK Osijek vs. Austria Wien in Europa League
Dinamo and Osijek are expected to progress to the group stage while this could be the end of the road for Hajduk. Win or lose, Rijeka will be playing in at least the Europa group stage after receiving a murderous draw with Olympiakos.
The 1st legs will take place the week of August 16th.
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It’s not supposed to happen this way. Usually one Croatian team (sometimes two) limps into the playoff round of Champions League or Europa League, scores a goal or two and bows out before September even begins.
In the past decade, Dinamo Zagreb have carried the flag for Croatia in Europe. Albeit, they have been getting absolutely dismantled in Champions League group stage, their presence amongst Europe’s elite speaks volumes where Croatian footballing talent stands in the 21st century.
Rijeka has danced in the Europa League group stage twice in the past five years, giving Sevilla a true test on more than one occasion. And we can’t forget Hajduk’s lone win in Europa League group stage in 2010 when Ante Vukušić scored an injury time winner against Anderlecht to send Poljud into madness. They would ultimately finish last in group with only three points.
Fast forward to 2017 where a new club is representing Croatia in Champions League (Rijeka) and tough draws were given to the majority of the HNL’s Europa League clubs. Rijeka have already overachieved this season in Europe by defeating Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg in the 3rd qualifying round. Rijeka are now guaranteed to play in the group stage of Europe this season, however, their playoff round outcome will determine if it’s Champions League or Europa.
Dinamo Zagreb are on schedule in Europa League to make the group stage. The former HNL champs defeated Odd 2-1 over two legs and will be a seeded team in the playoff round draw. Hajduk were 50-50 to get this far as they faced a tricky Danish club (Brondby) in the 3rd qualifying round. Hajduk kept Brondby scoreless through both matches and managed two goals at Poljud Thursday night to put them through.
And then there’s the Cinderella story of Osijek. It wouldn’t have been surprising if they didn’t get past Swiss club Luzern in the last round; but they did. And then they were given a death blow, being drawn against Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in the previous round. Osijek were 9 to 1 underdogs to progress past the Dutchmen. But some how, some way, Osijek built on their first leg penalty kick (questionable foul just outside the box), scored a wonderful free kick at home in the return leg and held PSV scoreless over 180 minutes.
That means in the third qualifying round, Croatian clubs posted six clean sheets over eight matches. Only Rijeka and Dinamo conceded goals, to Red Bull and Odd, respectively.
The draw for Champions League and Europa League playoff round takes place Friday morning, August 4th at 6AM (ET.)
Rijeka and Osijek have already overachieved. Dinamo will be seeded and will be favorites to move on and Hajduk will need some fortune if they plan on playing in the group stage, as they will be unseeded for the draw.
Now this is where we get to nerd out on football scenarios….
Croatia are currently ranked the 17th best European league. With all these wins from Rijeka, Dinamo, Hajduk and Osijek this season, it will push Croatia’s coefficient higher when seedings are restructured for future tournaments. The 15th best league earns the right to enter two teams into Champions League qualifying, which the HNL is not far behind. Calculating what Croatia’s teams need to do is too difficult, as it relies on other results and scenarios, so for the time being just know that the HNL is close.
If 2017’s four clubs do even more damage, it not only strengthens Croatia’s résumé but it shows the league can strive in times where higher powers look after themselves rather than the collective whole.
The draw takes place at 6AM (ET) and the post will be updated once Team CroatianSports.com wakes up.
Forza Fiume !
Kek is the best coach in the entire region.
Full faith that Rijeka will always be competitive.
Olympiakos is tough but predictable.
CL pool play in Rijeka?
All that money will go straight into investing into the club.
New stadion on the way?
Jebi ga EL or CL Rijeka is shining star by the sea!
Not sure what is worse ?
Dinamo/mamic dominating our savez or Hajduk being broke ?
Zadar in nogomet oblivion takes the cake!
@ Man U
You look pedestrian on wings without Ivan Perisic.
Pony up the £££££ and win the EPL.
Perišić will kill in the EPL and his WORLD-CLASS self needs to be in the CL.
Mourinho looked lost in Skopje without Perišić.
@ Idemo
If ya wanna get better….ya gotta play with the big boys! That’s why I want to see Croatian teams play in the Champions League–EVERY YEAR!
Besides you ask any one of those players, and their dream is to play in the Champions League, the “Holy Grail” of club competitions.
Now not to take anything away from the Europa League, but each player dreams of stepping out on to the pitch in Camp Nou, the Bernabeau…and go up against the very best! Each fan dreams of seeing their club host the likes of Real or Barca, and see Messi or Ronaldo in their own stadium.
Let’s hope Riejka gets passed Olympiakos and goes to the CL. It’s totally doable, this Olympiakos team is the favorite, however they are not as strong as previous Olympiakos teams.
tell you kid great job and give him a 20 for finishing last
enjoy your last place participation medal
@idemo
Get a life and get your head out of your ass.
Only medal here goes to you for your stupidity.
As Maminjo pointed out Rijeka play a system and know what to do on the field.
You really need to think before you post.
ps. btw I am not Maminjo or San Jose Hrvat,
hope you feel better today after you cry it out
Rijeka would do much better than Dinamo in Champions League.
Dinamo is honestly cursed in European competitions. They do equally bad in both CL and Europa. Always finishing last.
Rijeka did very well against quality clubs,and beat some very good teams (ie Stuttgart) when qualifying.
Rijeka will be fine. They’ll give Olympiakos a run for their money, and will be competitive in either competition they participate in. They play a system and know what to do on the field.
Should have known TX is San Jose stop sucking your self
You must be from the participation medal generation genuine real life losers
Kek is the key.
@san jose hrvat
LMFAO, well said on the box of Kleenex for the little peder.
You have to feel sorry for him, his feelings are hurt.
You have to laugh at the imbecile.
idemo
you are an idiot “finishing 4th in cl hurts other than financially” you need to get a box of kleenex I think Tx was correct, you don’t know math
🙂
Istina boli! Nosim kriz!!!!!!! Lol jk
looooool Rijeka would be dinamo all over again in CL Get real
Free 3 points
Yes yes the age old excuse of money yes yes line up for your participation medal
@san Jose
Of course but they are no where no big boy status yet and yes the only way of getting there is by being there but in my opinion they are perfect fit for Europa league…..finishing 4th in CL hurts other than financially
You don’t drop into Europa you get less games less development
Rijeka are not a champions league team. Flat out. Even someone here mentioned they are thin for Europe
Doesn’t mean they won’t get there or I won’t be pulling for them
my two cents worth is for any team to improve they have to play with the big boys, I am optimistic rijeka can make it and rather see them play in champions league over Europa league, no one pays attention to europa unless it is your team
people underestimate Rijeka, remember how they played sevilla, they were impressive
Who wants to finish 4th. Maybe you do shit head but those are your issues. Stop with your excuses. Do you realize how much every win brings the team. Do you not understand math! Until you do get over your loser mentality. Thank God you are not Kek and company or associated with Hajduk, Dinamo or Osijek.
#ParticipationMentality
Loser mentality but you want to finish 4 dead last for money, fuck out of here
That is a loser mentality.
Payout for CL play even if you finish 4th is incredible for any club. Just to quality they are guaranteed over 12M euros plus every win or tie is more than quadruple vs Europa league play.
Again this is excuses being made before they even start. It is a shame to play in Europa league when they have the momentum to qualify for CL play. We will see if Kek and company are the real deal in a few weeks.
Olympiacos team is worth 69 million while Rijeka 24
I think the comment of “if you can’t can’t beat x then you don’t deserve to be here” comment is reserved for opponents
You should be walking over.
I think Rijeka have showed a good amount already anything after this will be extra….no shame in Europa group stages….they’d probably finish 4 in champions league group and be done
I never said they were a push over. No team is a pushover when you progress this far in the draw. I said people are making excuses. If Rijeka expects to play CL well it is simple – go out and beat Olympiacos. Rijeka has good players and a coach that everyone likes to talk about. Time for them to show it in this upcoming round.
@TX
I believe you are incorrect, Olympiacos is no push over but nor are they top team, I think it is one of the tougher draws but albeit a fair one as Rijeka are playing beautiful tactical football
Redbull were much faster than them and it showed, olympiacos have a few guys with burners but I don’t think they are faster than RB
Austria Vienna isn’t very good lucky to go through last round. I see Osijek as favorites
If Rijeka can’t beat Olympiacos F.C., they do not deserve to be in CL. We can’t be making excuses for any team. All four have a chance to go forward.
If you’re at Poljud for the Everton match, it is your duty as a Hrvat and reader of this site to send us pictures. We will post all of them. Colin@croatianSports.com Send them!
I’ll be at poljud
Poljud will be an absolute fucking madhouse when Everton comes to town. Wish I was down in Dalmacija this summer to see that in person!
well, there goes the shot of having more than 2 teams in group stages lol
Rijeka get one of the harder teams of the draw. Better for us, we don’t belong in a CL group, although it would of been fun to see Rijeka and Rujevica go bananas if a big Euro team came to town. I can see Rijeka bowing out of CL, but making it out of an EL group.
Can’t see Hajduk pulling a miracle with Everton. Maybe Osijek has some magic left and beats Austria Wien?
lolol Dinamo like clockwork, get a cupcake team for a playoff tie with Skenderbeu from Albania. The Mamic invisible hand at work again… 😀
Dinamo Skenderbeu
Hajduk Everton…..
Hajduk Everton
Osijek Austria Wien
Rijeka Olympiacos…
I got you fellas