Rijeka mora pobijediti Irce na Rujevici. Sve drugo bila bi nepotrebna komplikacija za uzvrat

Rijeka must defeat Derry City on Rujevica. Anything else would be unnecessary complications for the return match on August 30th at Brandywell. The match on Thursday, July 23rd, at Rujevica carries far more significance than just being the first official game of the new season for Rijeka. It will mark the beginning of their European campaign, and it will also be the first competitive match for Matjaž Kek since his return to the club. Almost eight years after last leading the team in a competitive fixture, Kek will once again guide the young players toward victory. The opponent, Derry City, is a club from Northern Ireland competing in the Republic of Ireland’s Premier Division. Unlike Rijeka, which has yet to fully enter its competitive season, Derry is already deep into theirs. After 25 league matches, they sit sixth with 29 points, having secured six wins, 11 draws, and eight losses, maintaining a barely positive goal difference of 32:31. Their high number of draws best illustrates a squad that is difficult to break down and capable of staying in a match even when not superior. Derry began its European campaign in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League. They defeated CSKA Sofia 3:2 in Bulgaria and 2:1 at home, totaling 5:3, though the result leaves little room for underestimation. The Irish side scored in both games and remained competitive until the final whistle, demonstrating resilience. In their lineup, there are several experienced players such as James McClean, Liam Boyce, Michael Duffy, and Gavin Whyte. Their draw against CSKA confirmed what the whites can expect: a tough, battle-hardened team that will punish any lapse in concentration. Rijeka concluded its preparatory phase with a 2:0 win over Jadran Decan, featuring goals from Tonij Fruk and Amer Gojak. However, the European test will demand a higher level of intensity and focus. Entering the two-leg tie, Rijeka is favored due to greater individual quality, a broader squad depth, home advantage, and European experience. Yet, this status must be proven from the very first minute. The key will be imposing a controlled rhythm, playing patiently without hesitation, and ensuring that the visitors do not turn the match into a series of stoppages, duels, and waiting for one mistake. Derry possesses a competitive tempo, while Rijeka is still emerging from preparation, so the approach must immediately be at the level of a match that determines the direction of the season. Thus, the message before the first encounter is clear: Rijeka must win. Any other outcome would unnecessarily complicate the return match on August 30th at Brandywell, a stadium where Derry seriously challenged the favored CSKA. Rujevica must become the place where Rijeka takes control of the tie, creates a result-based advantage, and shows it is ready for the European summer. Kek's first tenure was marked by major European evenings and victories that remain part of club history. His return mandate now begins against an opponent that must be respected, yet also defeated. On Thursday, there is no room for calculation: energy from the stands, authority on the field, and a result that will open the path for the next step. When Matjaž Kek leads the whites again in an official match on Thursday, he will close a circle that had been left open for nearly eight years. Since his last competitive appearance at the Rijeka club on November 6th, 2018, exactly 2847 days have passed, seven years, nine months, and 17 days. The most decorated coach in Rijeka's history returns to the place where he achieved some of his greatest successes, wrote some of the most important pages of club history, and built a connection with the fans that endured beyond results, seasons, and time. Under his leadership, Rijeka won trophies, broke boundaries, and lived through European nights remembered even today. Therefore, the match against Derry City will not merely be the start of another European journey. It will also be a moment when Kek steps back onto the pitch in front of the Rijeka fans as a coach, where he celebrated his greatest victories and left behind the deepest marks. And precisely because of this, the evening carries emotions that transcend the first result of the new season.