Rijeka vs AEK Larnaca prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-11-26 20:00.
[p]One of the surprise packages from this season’s UEFA Conference League, AEK Larnaca look to continue their upward trajectory when they travel to face a Rijeka side rooted in mid-table.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Rijeka’s Conference League hopes hang firmly in the balance at the midway point of the league phase (W1, D1, L1), knowing victory here could catapult them deeper into the qualification spots, but also that defeat could see them plunge down the table. A thumping 5-0 win over Croatian HNL leaders Hajduk Split at the weekend showed exactly what they’re capable of, but they can’t shy away from the fact they sit third bottom of their domestic league. Just two defeats from their last eight competitive games (W4, D2) hints that they’ve perhaps turned a corner, and three successive home victories, including a 1-0 win against Slavia Prague on matchday two of this competition, should have them believing they can climb the table here. [/p]
[p]AEK Larnaca have stunned many this season and find themselves bedded inside the top eight after three matchdays (W2, D1). A famous 1-0 away win against Crystal Palace is the high point and is embedded within their current eight-match unbeaten run (W6, D2), with their most recent victory coming away from home against Olympiakos Nicosia on Saturday (4-1). Hitting the road once again shouldn’t worry a Larnaca side who’ve now won five successive away games, but with that Palace victory ending a six-match winless run in European road trips (D1, L5), it remains to be seen whether they truly have improved on that front.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]These two sides have never met previously, but Rijeka are unbeaten across their two prior meetings with Cypriot opposition (W1, D1) which came back in 2006. Larnaca have never faced Croatian opposition before.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Rijeka’s three league phase games this term all featured under 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]Eight of Rijeka’s last nine European home games also returned under 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]Larnaca have scored four of their five league phase goals after half-time.[/p]
[p]Larnaca are one of just two sides yet to concede a league phase goal this season. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Rijeka’s Daniel Adu-Adjei scored the winner in their prior home league phase game, with all four of his goals for the club arriving after half-time. Larnaca defender Hrvoje Miličević has seven goals to his name already this season, six of which came from the penalty spot. [/p]
[p]Rijeka have no fresh injury concerns, while Larnaca are also close to full strength. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Larnaca’s win against Palace may have been a one-off based on their prior European away form, so we’re backing Rijeka to win here. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]