Shelbourne up against Rijeka, Croatian champs, in tough test as they aim to stay alive in Europe after their Champions League exit. The Dublin club, champions of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division, are now on the Europa League path, and despite a heavy 4-0 defeat to Qarabag in the last round, they still have multiple chances to keep their European campaign alive thanks to the champions’ route.
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A New Route, A New Hope
Shelbourne are just 180 minutes away from securing group stage football in Europe. After seeing off Linfield earlier this summer, they now face a much tougher opponent in Rijeka. A win would send them to the Europa League play-off round, facing either Greece’s PAOK or Austria’s Wolfsberger. Even in defeat, Shels get a second chance—through the Conference League—against the winner of Linfield vs Vikingur. That safety net means this tie holds massive importance.
Learning from the Past
Shelbourne were outclassed by Qarabag in the home leg, losing 3-0, and played a rotated side in the return fixture, where they lost 1-0. Despite the result, the game served as useful preparation. Joey O’Brien used it to shape a game plan that focused on defensive discipline and smart counter-attacking. That strategy was visible in the way they held Qarabag scoreless for most of the match, only conceding just before half-time via a John Martin own goal. In the second half, Shels grew into the game and even had chances to equalize.
Strengthening the Squad
The game also saw the debut of new goalkeeper Wessel Speel, who saved a penalty and looked solid overall. It’s these kinds of performances that show how European competition can boost squad confidence. After that game, Shels returned to league action with a 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers, a much-needed lift after a slow domestic campaign and the sudden departure of manager Damien Duff.
Tonight’s Challenge
O’Brien is expected to field a strong starting XI against Rijeka, aiming to stay competitive ahead of the second leg in Dublin. Rijeka, fresh from a 2-0 league win and their own narrow European loss to Ludogorets, will likely press hard from the start. O’Brien, still shaping the team in his own image after working alongside Duff during last season’s title run, will rely on defensive shape and quick transitions. With physical forwards like John Martin and an organized midfield, Shels hope to frustrate Rijeka and maybe even come home with more than just hope.
