PAOK went to Croatia aiming for victory, coming up a team with more competitive match under their belt. The visitors created chances but failed to find the net, while the home team managed to score a goal from a set-piece play to claim a narrow victory.

Razvan Lucescu’s team lined upwith the same starting XI as their previous game and PAOK started well, pressing their hosts and went close with an effort by Ivanusec, and in the 20th minute the Double-headed Eagle missed their best chance.

Konstantelias and A. Zivkovic combined perfectly, and then the Serb laid on the ball for Ivanusec but his shot hit the post and bounced to safety.

The pattern of play in the match did not change, but chances in front of goal were at a premium for both sides, but from one of them Rijeka found a way to take the lead when Menalo headed in after a free kick taken by Jankovic.

PAOk continued to push and press in the second half, having the lion’s share of possession but not managing to forge openings easily or threaten consistently.

A shot by Konstantelias which curled narrowly over the crossbar, another by Baba and then a third from Sastre did not find the target, while at the other end Pavlenka ensured the score remained the same for PAOK by making a good save in the 86th minute on a shot by Cop.

The two coaches made several chacges as the second half entered into its finale, but the 1-0 scoreline remained until the final whistle.

Everything will now be decided at the Toumba Stadium next Thursday (28.08, 20:30), with PAOK looking to turn the tie around and get a ticket for the League Phase of the 2025-26 Europa League.

Team lineups:

Rijeka: Zlomislic, Devedak, Lasickas, Majstorovic, Randelic, Dantas (75’Ilinkovic), Petrovic, Jankovic, Ndockyt (75’Butic), Menalo (62’Cop), Fruk (85′ Bogojevic).

PAOK: Pavlenka, Kenny (60′ Sastre), Kedziora, Michailides, Baba, Meite, Ozdoev (60′ Kamara), Konstantelias, Ivanusec (60′ Hatsidis), A.Zivkovic, Chalov (75′ Mythou).