Rijeka faced Slaven Belupo in the Croatian Cup semi-final on Tuesday afternoon, with the reigning cup holders stepping onto the Rujevica pitch as clear favourites — but their path to another final is proving far from straightforward. Kick-off was scheduled for 16:30 local time, and supporters were urged to take their seats at least 15 minutes before the whistle to avoid missing a pre-match ceremony that added a layer of significance to the occasion.
Head coach Victor Sanchez named his starting lineup without the anticipated Morchiladze, who was notably absent from the squad sheet. Barišić got the nod to start in his place, slotting into a lineup that included Zlomislić in goal, with Oreč, Majstorović, Radeljić, and Devetak forming the defensive unit. Midfield duties were shared between Barco, Dantas, and Gojak, while Fruk and Adu-Adjei supported up front.
The visitors, Slaven Belupo, arrived at Kvarner in a significantly weakened state — travelling without ten players for reasons yet to be fully disclosed. Despite the depleted squad, their starting eleven showed enough organisation to frustrate Rijeka in the early stages of the match.
Before the game got underway, the atmosphere at the Rujevica was given an extra charge when the crowd acknowledged two special groups. The HMNK Rijeka futsal side — current Croatian Futsal Cup champions and leaders of the national futsal league — were welcomed onto the pitch to a round of applause. Also honoured were members of the Ajkula Special Police Association, veterans of the Croatian War of Independence, marking the 35th anniversary of the association’s founding.
Rijeka Croatian Cup Semi-Final Gets Off to a Cagey Start at Rujevica
The match itself opened cautiously. Within the first seven minutes, it was actually the visitors who created the first moment of danger — Mitrović getting off a turning shot, though it lacked the venom to seriously test goalkeeper Zlomislić. Rijeka’s supporters were left waiting for their side to find their rhythm.
By the 20-minute mark, the scoreboard remained goalless and genuine chances had been scarce on both ends. The hosts, despite their quality advantage on paper, struggled to break down a well-drilled Slaven Belupo defensive shape. Rijeka’s usual attacking combinations were being disrupted with relative ease by the away side.
At the half-hour mark, the 0-0 scoreline accurately reflected what had been a frustrating and somewhat laboured performance from the home side. Slaven Belupo’s compact defensive structure continued to deny Rijeka the space they needed to create clear-cut opportunities, and the Rujevica crowd were beginning to grow restless.
Referee Igor Pajač from Sveti Ivan Zelina was in charge of proceedings, with the match carrying enormous stakes for both clubs. For Rijeka, a place in the cup final and the chance to defend their title is very much on the line. For Slaven Belupo, progress to the final despite arriving with a severely depleted squad would represent one of the bigger upsets in recent Croatian Cup history.
The Slaven side featured Čović in goal, backed by Išasegi, Božić, Kovačić, and Krušelj in defence, with Crepulja, Ćubelić, Jović, and Mitrović in midfield, supported by Grgić and Lepinjica going forward. On paper it is a side that Rijeka should be managing — in practice, it has been anything but straightforward.
Whether Rijeka can find the breakthrough and book their spot in the final — where either Gorica or Dinamo awaits — remains to be seen, but one thing is already clear: Slaven Belupo did not come to Rijeka to make up the numbers, and the cup holders will need to lift their game significantly if they want to keep their title defence alive.