Slaven Belupo produced one of the most emphatic results of the Croatian Football League season on October 12, 2026, defeating Rijeka 4-1 at the Gradski stadion u Koprivnici. The home side paired ruthless finishing with an aggressive midfield press, handing one of Croatia’s traditional powers a rare heavy defeat and injecting fresh energy into their own campaign.

Rijeka arrived with ambitions of tightening their grip on a place near the top of the HNL table, but they were second-best for long stretches. Slaven Belupo scored at key moments, absorbed pressure when required and then punished Rijeka on the counter-attack. The four-goal performance was as complete as anything the Koprivnica club has produced this season.

Match overview

The tone was set early. Slaven Belupo pressed high, forced turnovers in wide areas and attacked with purpose whenever Rijeka tried to play out from the back. Rijeka enjoyed more possession in the opening half-hour, but their build-up was slow and predictable, allowing the home midfield to reset and crowd the central lanes.

Once Slaven Belupo took the lead, the match became a lesson in efficient home football. The hosts dropped slightly deeper without becoming passive, then exploded forward through quick transitions. Rijeka’s defence struggled with the direct running of the Slaven forwards, and the scoreline reflected the home side’s superior cutting edge.

Key moments

• 14th minute — Slaven Belupo open the scoring: Matej Mršić latched onto a loose ball just outside the box and guided a low finish beyond the Rijeka goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
• 38th minute — 2-0: Ivan Kovačić rose highest from a corner and powered a header into the net, rewarding Slaven Belupo’s growing control.
• 63rd minute — 3-0: Luka Branšteter finished off a rapid counter-attack, sprinting clear before slotting calmly past the goalkeeper.
• 72nd minute — Rijeka pull one back: Franjo Ivanović gave the visitors brief hope with a well-taken effort from the edge of the area.
• 84th minute — 4-1: Substitute Ante Crnac restored the three-goal cushion, turning in a cross at the near post to complete the rout.

Tactical story

Slaven Belupo’s shape was compact and disciplined. Their midfield duo screened the back four, while the wide players tracked back diligently and then pushed forward in transition. That balance allowed the hosts to survive Rijeka’s best spells without ever losing their attacking threat.

Rijeka, by contrast, looked short of ideas in the final third. Their full-backs pushed high, but the crosses were often hurried, and the central strikers were isolated against a determined home defence. When Rijeka lost possession, they were exposed to exactly the kind of fast breaks that produced Slaven Belupo’s third and fourth goals.

Standout players

Matej Mršić was the catalyst, not only for his opening goal but for his link-up play between the lines. Ivan Kovačić controlled the tempo and delivered a captain’s performance, while Luka Branšteter’s pace caused problems every time he ran at the Rijeka back line. In goal, Slaven Belupo’s goalkeeper made two important saves at 2-0 and 3-1 to prevent any late nerves.

What it means in the Croatian Football League standings

The victory gives Slaven Belupo a significant boost in the HNL standings and strengthens their push for a higher finish. For Rijeka, the defeat is a setback in the title race and raises questions about their defensive consistency on the road. Slaven Belupo will look to build on the result in their next league fixture, while Rijeka must regroup quickly before their next test.

In a league where away wins are often hard-earned, Slaven Belupo’s 4-1 demolition of Rijeka will be remembered as one of the standout scorelines of the 2026 Croatian Football League season.