Shakhtar vs Rijeka: introducing the opponents
Thursday, December 18, 2025
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Shakhtar will host Croatian champions Rijeka in the UEFA Conference League round 6
December 18, Kraków, Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, 22:00
The live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO
History and path to the Conference League
Rijeka football club was founded in the city of the same name in 1906. The team twice won the Yugoslav Cup (1978, 1979) and were six-time winners of the Yugoslav Second League, but did not achieve notable success in the top division. In the modern period of the club’s history, they have twice become Croatian champions (2017, 2025), won 6 Croatian Cups and the national Super Cup. Last season, the Whites completed a golden double and earned a place in the UEFA Champions League qualification rounds. However, already in the first qualifying round, Rijeka lost to Bulgarian side Ludogorets (0-0, 1-3) and dropped into the UEFA Europa League, where they first overcame Irish club Shelbourne (1-2, 3-1), but then lost to Greek side PAOK (1-0, 0-5) and eventually ended up in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
2025/26 performances
In the UEFA Europa Conference League league phase, Rijeka started with an away defeat to Armenian side Noah (0-1), followed by a victory over Sparta Praha (1-0), draws with Gibraltar’s Lincoln (1-1) and Cypriot AEK (0-0), thrashing Slovenian side Celje at home (3-0) through goals from Adu-Adjei, Petrovic and Fruk in the previous round. As a result, they currently have 8 points (goal difference: 5-2) and are in 14th spot in the overall standings of the competition. On the one hand, the team retain mathematical chances of finishing in the top eight, while on the other, they have not yet secured qualification for the play-offs. In the Croatian championship, Rijeka are only 6th after 16 matches with 21 points (goal difference: 26-19), trailing the leaders by 14 points, while they have reached the quarter-finals in the national Cup.
Squad and leaders
Rijeka’s head coach is 49-year-old Spaniard Víctor Sánchez. He has been in charge of the team since September 3, 2025, having previously worked at Olimpija (Slovenia), Málaga, Betis, Olympiacos and Deportivo. The team have played 18 matches under his guidance (8 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses). The captain of the Whites is Bosnian goalkeeper Martin Zlomislic, who has been with the club since 2021. The most prolific player this season is Croatian midfielder Toni Fruk, who has 11 goals and 2 assists (2 goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League) and is also the club’s most valuable player according to Transfermarkt (estimated value is EUR 9 million). Among the leading goalscorers are also two forwards – experienced Croatian Duje Cop and young Englishman Daniel Adu-Adjei (both with 5 goals).
Head-to-head record
Shakhtar and Rijeka will meet for the first time in competitive matches. At the same time, the Miners have played four matches against another Croatian side, Dinamo Zagreb. The Pitmen recorded two victories in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League qualifiers (2-0 in Donetsk and 3-1 in Zagreb), and also drew twice in the 2019/20 Champions League group stage (2-2 at home and 3-3 away). Rijeka have faced Ukrainian clubs three times in the UEFA Europa League: they lost both matches to Metalist (1-2 and 0-2) in 2009, defeating Kolos in 2020 (2-0).
The Shakhtar vs Rijeka match will be officiated by the judging panel from England: referee – Anthony Taylor, assistants – Adam Nunn and Lee Betts. VAR – Michael Salisbury, AVAR – Matthew Donohue.
The live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO
History and path to the Conference League
Rijeka football club was founded in the city of the same name in 1906. The team twice won the Yugoslav Cup (1978, 1979) and were six-time winners of the Yugoslav Second League, but did not achieve notable success in the top division. In the modern period of the club’s history, they have twice become Croatian champions (2017, 2025), won 6 Croatian Cups and the national Super Cup. Last season, the Whites completed a golden double and earned a place in the UEFA Champions League qualification rounds. However, already in the first qualifying round, Rijeka lost to Bulgarian side Ludogorets (0-0, 1-3) and dropped into the UEFA Europa League, where they first overcame Irish club Shelbourne (1-2, 3-1), but then lost to Greek side PAOK (1-0, 0-5) and eventually ended up in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
2025/26 performances
In the UEFA Europa Conference League league phase, Rijeka started with an away defeat to Armenian side Noah (0-1), followed by a victory over Sparta Praha (1-0), draws with Gibraltar’s Lincoln (1-1) and Cypriot AEK (0-0), thrashing Slovenian side Celje at home (3-0) through goals from Adu-Adjei, Petrovic and Fruk in the previous round. As a result, they currently have 8 points (goal difference: 5-2) and are in 14th spot in the overall standings of the competition. On the one hand, the team retain mathematical chances of finishing in the top eight, while on the other, they have not yet secured qualification for the play-offs. In the Croatian championship, Rijeka are only 6th after 16 matches with 21 points (goal difference: 26-19), trailing the leaders by 14 points, while they have reached the quarter-finals in the national Cup.
Squad and leaders
Rijeka’s head coach is 49-year-old Spaniard Víctor Sánchez. He has been in charge of the team since September 3, 2025, having previously worked at Olimpija (Slovenia), Málaga, Betis, Olympiacos and Deportivo. The team have played 18 matches under his guidance (8 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses). The captain of the Whites is Bosnian goalkeeper Martin Zlomislic, who has been with the club since 2021. The most prolific player this season is Croatian midfielder Toni Fruk, who has 11 goals and 2 assists (2 goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League) and is also the club’s most valuable player according to Transfermarkt (estimated value is EUR 9 million). Among the leading goalscorers are also two forwards – experienced Croatian Duje Cop and young Englishman Daniel Adu-Adjei (both with 5 goals).
Head-to-head record
Shakhtar and Rijeka will meet for the first time in competitive matches. At the same time, the Miners have played four matches against another Croatian side, Dinamo Zagreb. The Pitmen recorded two victories in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League qualifiers (2-0 in Donetsk and 3-1 in Zagreb), and also drew twice in the 2019/20 Champions League group stage (2-2 at home and 3-3 away). Rijeka have faced Ukrainian clubs three times in the UEFA Europa League: they lost both matches to Metalist (1-2 and 0-2) in 2009, defeating Kolos in 2020 (2-0).
The Shakhtar vs Rijeka match will be officiated by the judging panel from England: referee – Anthony Taylor, assistants – Adam Nunn and Lee Betts. VAR – Michael Salisbury, AVAR – Matthew Donohue.