Derry City open Conference League account against Rijeka

Derry City begin their 2026-27 UEFA Europa Conference League quest on Thursday night against Rijeka in Stadion HNK Rijeka. League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 2nd in Premier Division, 63 pts, 18W-9D-9L from 36 games, recent form WWWWD.

The Candystripes arrive in Croatia after a bruising Europa League exit to CSKA Sofia, but they carry a five-game winning streak into this tie. Their last outing saw them beat Shamrock Rovers 1-0 on 31 January 2026, a result that left them three points adrift of the league leaders. Over the past five matches they’ve scored 12 goals without reply, showing a sharpness that was missing earlier in the season when they shipped 39 goals in 36 games.

What happened in the Europa League curtain-raiser?

Derry’s European curtain-raiser ended in a 2-1 aggregate loss to CSKA Sofia. A 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Sofia left them needing a clean sheet in the second. Instead, a 90th-minute winner from Lazar Marin turned the tie in the Bulgarians’ favour. The Candystripes fought hard, but two yellow cards in the opening 20 minutes forced them to chase the game from an early deficit.

Why it matters for Derry City

A positive result in Rijeka keeps the momentum rolling after that late setback. A win would hand manager Ryan Gray a morale boost and a clear path to the third qualifying round. Rijeka, meanwhile, arrive fresh from a 3-1 aggregate win over Pafos FC, with striker Robert Murić already finding the net twice in the first leg.

Derry’s attacking unit has clicked in recent weeks. They’ve scored 12 goals in their last five outings, including a 4-0 thrashing of Drogheda United on 12 July. That uptick in form is crucial as they face a Rijeka side that has conceded just four goals in their last six domestic matches. The visitors will need to keep their defensive shape tight and exploit the spaces behind Rijeka’s high line.

What comes next for both sides?

The winners of this tie face either Ajax or Vojvodina Novi Sad in the next round. A trip to the Johan Cruyff Arena would be a prize worth fighting for, but Derry must first negotiate Rijeka’s tricky home patch. The Croatians have lost just once in their last 12 European home games, a run that includes victories over Partizan Belgrade and Fehérvár.

For Derry, the focus is simple: keep the ball, press high, and punish Rijeka on the counter. A draw would still hand them a second-leg advantage, but a clean sheet in Croatia would send a message that the Candystripes are back on track after a rocky start to the summer.