Rijeka have made Croatia proud and have secured their spot in European play. Whether it’s in Champions or Europa League is still uncertain, but a trip to the Champions League Playoff round will see the team in either the Champions League group stage or Europa League group stage, depending on the outcome.
Rijeka finished the 90 minutes with bare minimum needed – a scoreless draw – to advance on a 1-1 aggregate. Rijeka scored the crucial away goal in Salzburg last week thanks to Mario Gavranovic, which was all that was needed to make it through the return leg at Rujevica.
The team was also at the correct end of two disallowed goals from Red Bull, due to offside calls.
They were crowned Croatian champions for the first time in May, cruised by TNS in the first set of Champions League qualifying matches and then were handed a difficult draw in Red Bull Salzburg. But this Rijeka side has real fight in them and refuse to be stopped.
The draw will take place Friday morning at 6 am EST, so by the time you’re pouring your Cheerios, we’ll know what lies ahead for Rijeka
What’s the process like to buy tickets for a Rijeka match? Do I need a membership card? Hoping to make my first trip to Croatia in late February for the Rijeka v Dinamo match.
All assistance is appreciated.
-Andrew
I don’t consider Rijeka to be as Croatian as Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split even though they are Croatian does anyone really care?
they rested in the league before Red Bull home and still comfortably won
A Champions League berth should hopefully mean a squad too thin to retain their domestic title.
One can hope..
KEK Majstor!
Get to play another two legged tie against a quality club and win or lose they are in Europe.
New stadion on its way and €€€ too.
I hope they build the best youth academy and start producing world class players.
Idemo – So still qualifying for a Champions berth (pot), but already a guarantee for Europa League…
Thank you for clarification!
champions*
@tomo for ha lions league they have to win in playoff round but the losers of playoff round go to Europa league pot so Rijeka is is in Europe no mater what
so does this now mean Rijeka is in one of the pots for the draw in Champions League? If so, that is great!
I think a Rakija for Rijeka is more appropriate.
Doesn’t matter when pass departed. Rijeka player left field without the referee’s permission therefore is still considered to be on the field at the location he left the field.
But yes, time to celebrate!
I only saw the last 40 minutes. It was hard but they made it. I don’t know about Salzburg (offside) goal. There sure was a Croatian player behind the goalscorer when he got the pass but was the Croatian player still at the pitch when the pass departed?
What I do know. Great result and I loved the Rijeka fans singing “Red Bull, Red Bull, auf wedersehen, auf wedersehen”.
Nice. Kek is without doubt the best trainer in the Croatian League.
Time for a beer.
Go Rijeka!!!
So Rijeka started the party this week by going to the next round. But now it’s time for Hajduk, Osijek, and Dinamo to finish the job tomorrow!!
@ Idemo
Do you not see the Rijeka defender laying off of the field on the far side of the goal?
Per the FIFA rule change in 2008, this player is maintains a position on the line at the point where he left the field. Even if he is not involved with the play, and even if his momentum took him off the field. Therefore he kept all the Red Bull players onside.
If he was pushed or dragged off of the field, it should have been a foul, however I don’t think that was the call.
I’m not saying I’m not happy about it – it was just a fortunate call!
Rijeka are in Europe!!!!!!
Both were clearly off…..you’re mad….there was a touch on the ball before it got to the third man and he was a mile off
Rijeka got away with that offside call.
A player whose momentum takes them off the pitch is judged to have a position on their goal-line, even if not involved in the play.
Red Bull goal should have counted – glad it didn’t though!
Sorry, Can’t embed the match. Here’s the link. It’s also up above in the article under the picture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE-3nMt-gas
Forza Fiume !