What TV channel is Rijeka vs Shelbourne on? Stream, kick-off time & odds for Europa League qualifier
CLASH IN CROATIA What TV channel is Rijeka vs Shelbourne on? Stream, kick-off time & odds for Europa League qualifier
SHELBOURNE'S European odyssey has taken them to Croatia this evening for the first leg of a third qualifying round for the Europa League.
They'll be hoping to hoping to buck the trend for League of Ireland sides on the road in Europe.
As boss O'Brien explained: 'Irish teams . . . our record in Europe away from home against stronger teams and stronger countries over the years — it isn't very good.'
Reds fans in Rijeka will reminisce about how their side famously beat Hajduk Split 4-3 on aggregate 21 years ago.
Nevertheless, first-leg away wins against sides from higher-ranked leagues have remained very rare.
Shamrock Rovers' victory in Molde in February of this year, St Pat's winning at CSKA Sofia three years ago, Sligo Rovers' wins at Rosenborg (July 2014) and Motherwell (July 2022) are the only ones in the past two decades.
That just one of those four ties were ultimately won by the Irish side — Sligo beating Motherwell — highlights the scale of the task.
Here's everything you need to know about to watch tonight's match:
WHAT STREAM IS RIJEKA VS SHELBOURNE ON?
Once again, this European fixture isn't being televised anywhere so fans will have to stream it via SolidSport.
Purchasing the stream will cost €13. Kick-off from the Rujevica Stadium will be at 7:45pm Irish time.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
The home side are strongly fancied to win tonight at 2/11 while the League of Ireland Premier Division champions are 12/1 outsiders.
A draw is priced at 9/1.
Jose Mourinho wipes away tears as he pays heartbreaking tribute to Porto's Champions League-winning captain Jorge Costa
WHAT'S BEEN SAID IN THE BUILD-UP?
Boss Joey O'Brien has no doubt that doing it against Rijeka would be a monumental achievement for his side.
He said: 'It's going to be a monster task but it's a task that we want and we're going to embrace. We're going to try and put our best foot forward and get a result.
'I think Rijeka are favourites, obviously. They won the league last year.
European football is obviously difficult away from home.
"It's going to be a really difficult game, but it's a game we can't wait for, we're really looking forward to.'
1
Shels sit fifth in the LOI table this season with 38 points from 26 games
Like Shels, the Croats are on the 'champions path' but the fact that they have been parachuted into this stage of the Europa League is a surprise.
They were knocked out of the Champions League by Bulgarian giants Ludogorets — who beat Shamrock Rovers in 2022 — after extra-time, having had two men sent off.
And O'Brien believes Rijeka are a better team than Ludogorets and will still be disappointed.
QUALITY OUTFIT
The former defender added: 'I think they should have gone through. I'm sure they were probably feeling they were unlucky to get knocked out.
'I felt watching the two games, they were the better team and they had chances. In the second leg, they got a couple of lads sent off, so it was obviously really difficult.'
He also dismissed the notion that tonight's opponents will be out of shape with the Croatian season having only started last Sunday.
O'Brien continued: 'When you get to a certain level of player, and this is a certain level of team, they are obviously professionals.
"The days are gone where in the off-season, lads used to go out on the batter and put on bleedin' a half a stone and then burn it off in pre-season. That's not the case anymore.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
37 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Manchester United agree deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Benjamin Sesko after agreeing a deal worth up to £73.7million with RB Leipzig, the PA news agency understands. The talented 22-year-old striker has been the subject of a tug of a war as the Red Devils and Newcastle both attempted to bolster their attacks ahead of the new season. Sesko indicated to United that he favoured a move to them over the Magpies and PA understands they have now agreed a deal with Leipzig worth €76.5m plus a potential €8.5m in add-ons. The Slovenia international has been granted permission to travel to Manchester to undergo a medical and complete the move. United have transformed Ruben Amorim's attack (Adam Davy/PA) Sesko scored 21 goals in all competitions last term and has long been on the Red Devils' radar, stretching back to his move from Domzale to RB Salzburg in 2019. Newcastle had made the first move this summer and reacted to seeing an initial bid rebuffed by making an improved approach worth a reported €82.5m plus €2.5m in add-ons. Ruben Amorim's Red Devils were waiting in the wings and followed with a rival proposal of €75m plus a potential €10m in add-ons. The terms were subsequently tweaked, with United paying slightly more as an initial fee as part of the deal in principle struck with Leipzig. Sesko is United's third attacking addition, following the arrivals of Matheus Cunha (pictured) and Bryan Mbeumo (Nick Potts/PA) Sesko is set to become the fourth signing of the summer as United look to hit back from finishing 15th last season – their worst top-flight campaign in 51 years – and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. Matheus Cunha joined from Wolves for £62.5m, while Bryan Mbeumo left Brentford for an initial £65m fee that could rise by a further £6m should certain add-on clauses related to team and player be achieved. Teenage wing-back Diego Leon has also linked up with United after a deal was struck with Cerro Porteno in January.
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Premier Sports and Disney+ to show La Liga games in Ireland for next three seasons
PREMIER SPORTS WILL continue to broadcast live matches from the Spanish top flight in Ireland and the UK for the next three seasons, while the 8:30pm Saturday kick-off will be streamed exclusively on Disney+. Premier have renewed their rights deal with La Liga until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, while subscribers to Disney+ — whose parent company owns ESPN — can watch the Saturday-night game as part of the standard €9.99 monthly package. Aside from the standalone Saturday-night fixture on Disney, Premier Sports will show every match live as part of its new agreement with La Liga. Champions Barcelona will begin the defence of their title away to Mallorca at 6:30pm on Saturday, 16 August, while Real Madrid's campaign will begin at home to Osasuna at 8pm on Tuesday, 19 August. Both of those games will be shown live on Premier Sports. Advertisement Disney's first game will come straight after Barca's season opener, when Valencia host Real Sociedad at 8:30pm on Saturday, 16 August. The first Clásico of the 2025/26 season is currently set for the Bernabéu on the weekend of 25/26 October, with the exact date to be confirmed. As such, its Irish and UK broadcaster has yet to be determined.
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Manchester United agree deal to sign Benjamin Sesko in big blow to Newcastle
Manchester United are on the brink of signing Benjamin Sesko, having agreed a deal worth up to £73.7million with RB Leipzig, according to PA news agency. The 22 year old striker, who is highly sought after, has been at the centre of a bidding war between the Red Devils and Newcastle, both keen to strengthen their attacking line-up for the upcoming season. Sesko expressed his preference for a move to United over Newcastle, and it's understood that a deal has now been struck with Leipzig for 76.5m euros (£66.3m), plus a potential 8.5m euros (£7.4m) in add-ons. The Slovenia international has been granted permission to travel to Manchester to undergo a medical and complete the move. Sesko scored 21 goals in all competitions last term and has long been on the Red Devils' radar, stretching back to his move from Domzale to RB Salzburg in 2019. Newcastle had made the first move this summer and reacted to seeing an initial bid rebuffed by making an improved approach worth a reported 82.5m euros (£71.9m) plus 2.5m euros (£2.2m) in add-ons. Ruben Amorim's Red Devils were waiting in the wings and followed with a rival proposal of 75m euros (£65.4m), plus a potential 10m (£8.7m) in add-ons. The terms were subsequently tweaked, with United paying slightly more as an initial fee as part of the deal in principle struck with Leipzig. Sesko is set to become the fourth signing of the summer as United look to hit back from finishing 15th last season – their worst top-flight campaign in 51 years – and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. Matheus Cunha joined from Wolves for £62.5m, while Bryan Mbeumo left Brentford for an initial £65m fee that could rise by a further £6m should certain add-on clauses related to team and player be achieved. Teenage wing-back Diego Leon has also linked up with United after a deal was struck with Cerro Porteno in January. Sesko's impending arrival raises fresh questions over the future of fellow frontman Rasmus Hojlund, who has scored just 14 goals in 62 Premier League appearances since joining from Atalanta in 2023. The striker, who like the Slovenian is 22, has rarely justified his lofty fee and has been linked with an exit, but the Denmark international recently stressed that he wants to stay at Old Trafford. United have been trying to sign a striker throughout this window and made Sesko their priority over Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, having been interested in Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike before their summer moves. Newcastle also held an interest in the pair and missing out on Sesko is another blow in a frustrating summer window that has been compounded by the situation surrounding Liverpool's pursuit of Alexander Isak. The 25-year-old missed Newcastle's Asian tour with what the club called a 'minor thigh injury' but it soon emerged he was unsettled and training at former club Real Sociedad. Boss Eddie Howe claimed he only found about Isak's whereabouts through the media, with the Sweden international made to train by himself in Tyneside on Wednesday. Liverpool have seen a £110m bid rejected and, while the Premier League champions remain keen on the 25-year-old, sources on Merseyside have indicated they would not enter a bidding war.
