Despite acknowledging a challenging mission ahead, manager Joey O'Brien aims for triumph in Croatia with Shelbourne FC.
Shelbourne, the Irish football club managed by Joey O'Brien, is gearing up for a challenging encounter against HNK Rijeka in the Europa League 3rd qualifying round, 1st leg. The match, set to take place at Stadion Rujevica in Rijeka, will be live on Solid Sport (streaming).
O'Brien, who has led Shelbourne to an unbeaten run in the last seven games, acknowledges the difficulty of playing away from home against stronger teams, calling it a "monster task." This sentiment is echoed in the anticipation surrounding the upcoming match against Rijeka, a team considered the clear favourite due to their stronger recent domestic form and home advantage.
Predictions for the match suggest a home win for Rijeka, with most forecasts predicting a 2-0 or 2-1 victory for the Croatian side. This prediction is supported by Rijeka's recent domestic win with good performances and their solid home record in UEFA competitions, remaining unbeaten in their last seven home UEFA games.
On the other hand, Shelbourne has been inconsistent, scoring little and losing heavily in their Champions League qualifiers. They are also struggling in their domestic league and have a poor record in European away ties. Predictions discourage bets on both teams scoring, with most forecasts suggesting that Rijeka will keep a clean sheet.
Lineup news shows Rijeka missing two players due to red cards but starting recent goalscorers, while Shelbourne may be missing a defender due to injury, which further favors Rijeka.
If Shelbourne manages to overcome this hurdle, they will face either PAOK FC or Wolfsberg in the Europa League playoff round. The winners of the playoff will reach the group stage.
In domestic action, Shelbourne recently beat Sligo Rovers 2-0, with Seaán Moore and Milan Mbeng making their debuts. Mipo Odubeko, who has already scored eight goals in 20 appearances, could potentially score more as the season progresses. Kerr McInroy and Evan Caffrey have been instrumental in Shelbourne's recent performances.
However, the likelier scenario for Shelbourne is a Uefa Conference League playoff against Linfield, following David Healy's NIFL Premiership champions. O'Brien, focusing on the upcoming game against Rijeka, has avoided discussions about potential Plan Bs.
Conor Kearns, the goalkeeper, might be recalled by O'Brien instead of new Dutch signing Wessel Speel for the crucial match against Rijeka.
Rijeka, who recently lost to Ludogorets in the Champions League and had two players sent off, will be looking to bounce back in front of their home crowd. They started their domestic season with a 2-0 win against Slaven Belupo.
As O'Brien prepares his team for the "monster game" against Rijeka, Shelbourne fans will be hoping for a miraculous performance that could propel them into the Europa League playoff round.
Despite Shelbourne's recent success in the domestic league, they face a challenging encounter against Rijeka in the Europa League, with most sports analysts predicting a home win for the Croatian side. This prediction is based on Rijeka's solid home record in UEFA competitions and their recent domestic form. Meanwhile, O'Brien is keen to focus on the Premier League, with a potential Plan B in the Uefa Conference League playoff against Linfield if Shelbourne fails to progress in the Europa League.
