Dinamo host Genk in Europa League play-offs, Rijeka face Omonoia in Cyprus

In European club football action, GNK Dinamo Zagreb will host Belgian side KRC Genk on Thursday at 6:45 pm at Maksimir Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie.

A victory would put Dinamo in a strong position ahead of the return leg and move the Croatian champions a step closer to the knockout phase.

Genk arrive in Zagreb with quality and European experience, but Dinamo will be determined to make home advantage count and build momentum before next week’s decisive second leg in Belgium.

The two sides have met twice before in major European competition, during the 2021-22 Europa League group stage. Dinamo won once and drew once in those encounters. Encouragingly for the hosts, Dinamo have won five of their previous six home knockout matches in the Europa League, keeping a clean sheet in each of those five victories.

The return leg will be played in Belgium one week later.

Meanwhile, HNK Rijeka have travelled to Cyprus, where they will face Omonoia Nicosia on Thursday at 9 pm in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off.

It marks the first time in 46 years that Rijeka will be playing a European club match at such a late stage of the season.

Omonoia head into the clash in strong domestic form, having won their last eight league matches to climb to the top of the Cypriot league standings. Rijeka coach Víctor Sánchez acknowledged the challenge ahead, stressing that his side will need to deliver at their highest level.

“We have full faith in our players. We are facing a team with quality and experienced individuals. In games like this, every detail is crucial. Experience has taught me that knowing how to play these kinds of matches is key,” Sánchez said.

“We have a very young team, but we are trying to play maturely. We are happy with the level we are showing, especially the way we are progressing from game to game. We believe we can play two very competitive matches, and we will try to start strongly in this first one.”

Rijeka will host the return leg on Thursday, February 26.