November 6, 2020 - In the 3rd round of the Europa League, Rijeka falls to Napoli, and Dinamo tops Wolfsberger AC.

It was the battle of the Cup winners on Thursday night, as 2020 Croatian Cup winner Rijeka held their own against the 2020 Italian Cup winner and legendary Italian club Napoli. 

Unfortunately, just like two weeks, Rijeka suffered the same fate as they did against Real Sociedad at Rujevica and was left without points.

Rijeka opened the game brilliantly against the favorites, and with aggressive pressing, they forced Napoli to make poor passes, after which they created good chances to score with quick counterattacks.

Rijeka had the first great opportunity in the 4th minute when Menalo shot well from 20 meters, but Napoli goalkeeper Meret managed to defend. However, even that was not enough to wake up the guests who came into the game quite nonchalantly, and in the 13th minute, there was a new counterattack for Rijeka. Menalo and Kulenović brilliantly combined to find Murić, who nailed the helpless Meret's net with a precise shot from the top of the penalty area for 1:0.

Unfortunately, Robert Murić had to come off due to injury in the 24th minute, an exit which greatly affected the further course of the match. With the departure of Murić, Napoli took control of the pitch, and although they did not create any likely opportunity to score, they equalized at the end of the first half. Demme scored off a Mertens assist for 1:1.

Napoli increased their pressure in the second half, which proved to be too tough for Rijeka to sustain. An own goal in the 63rd minute by Filip Braut gave Napoli the 1:2 victory. 

In the second match of the 3rd round, Real Sociedad defeated AZ Alkmaar 1:0 (0:0) with a goal by Porto (58). Thus, halfway through the competition, AZ Alkmaar, Napoli, and Real Sociedad have six points each, while Rijeka is in last with no points.

In the 4th round in three weeks, Napoli - Rijeka and AZ Alkmaar - Real Sociedad will play.

In the second match on Thursday, Dinamo scored their first goal in the 3rd round of Group K and achieved their first victory, defeating Austrian club Wolfsberger 1:0 with a goal by Atiemwen in the 76th minute, which put them at the top of the group.

Dinamo played with a man-up throughout the second half but was not particularly dangerous. However, the first victory and a total of five points in the group was secured by Atiemwen only two minutes after he entered the the pitch in the 74th minute.

Both sides had major problems with COVID-19 infected players before the match. Namely, Dinamo had nine infected players, as well as coach Zoran Mamic, who was replaced by Alen Peternac. The Austrian club had slightly less, or only eight infected players.

Dinamo played without Livaković, Petković, Stojanović, Theophile-Catherine, and Ivanušec, while Wolfsberger did not have Liendl, their best player, scorer, and captain.

In the second game of this group, Nikola Vlašić's CSKA Moscow lost 3:1 to Feyenoord.

The home team scored all three goals in just 10 minutes in the middle of the second half - Haps (63), Kokca (71), and Geertruida (72) scored. Senesi (80) reduced the lead with an own goal for the final 3:1 result.

Dinamo leads the group with five points and a goal difference of 1:0, followed by Wolfsberger and Feyenoord with four points each, while CSKA is last with two points.

In the 4th round in three weeks, Wolfsberger - Dinamo and CSKA - Feyenoord will play.

Source: Rezultati, HRT

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October 23, 2020 - In the first round of the Europa League group stage on Thursday, Rijeka falls to Real Sociedad and Dinamo draws to Feyenoord.

Rijeka opened their performance in Group F of the Europa League with a last-minute defeat at Rujevica stadium against Real Sociedad (0:1). In the second match of this group, Dutch club AZ Alkmaar beat Napoli away with an identical result.

Against the currently leading team of the Spanish Championship, Rijeka played an excellent first half during which they had more chances to score. Still, in the continuation of the second half, they were forced to defend time after time - though they almost managed to hold on. 

In the final minutes of the match, Rijeka could no longer keep possession, and the great pressure from Real Sociedad eventually brought a goal. Veteran David Silva played Merin on the left-wing, who found the middle of the penalty area where Bautista managed to beat Nevistić for 0:1.

In the second match of this group, AZ Alkmaar surprised Napoli away by defeating them 1:0 with a goal by Karlsson (57). Thus, after the first round, Real Sociedad and AZ Alkmaar have three points each, while Rijeka and Napoli are without points.

In the second round, Rijeka will play against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands in a week, while Real Sociedad will host Napoli.

In the second match of the day, Dinamo Zagreb played 0:0 against Feyenoord in the first round of Group K at Maksimir. However, they had a numerical advantage in the last 20 minutes. In the second match of this group, Wolfsberg and CSKA Moscow played 1:1.

The Croatian champion played a solid game against the Dutch club in which Feyenoord was better in the first half and Dinamo in the second half.

Feyenoord was much more dangerous at the beginning of the match. In the seventh minute, Jakić reacted catastrophically and brought down Diemers in the box, awarding a penalty to Feyenoord. Fortunately, the great Dominik Livaković defended the strike of captain Berghuis to keep the game 0:0. 

Dinamo received an unexpected gift about 20 minutes before the end of the match, playing with an extra player on the pitch. Namely, the second yellow was given to Senesi for fouling Dinamo captain Ademi. Unfortunately, Dinamo was still unable to score, and the match ended 0:0.

In Group K's second match, CSKA took the lead against Wolfsberg in Klagenfurt in the fifth minute with a goal by Gaich on a pass from Nikola Vlašić, and Liendl equalized for 1:1 from a penalty in the 42nd minute.

Thus, after the first round, all four teams in this group have one point. In a week, Dinamo will play against CSKA Moscow in the second round, while Feyenoord will host Wolfsberg.

You can see all of the results HERE.

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October 28, 2019 - Croatia welcomes their last Euro 2020 qualifier next month against Slovakia as the first team in the group. Zlatko Dalic has announced the player list. 

On Saturday, November 16, at 8:45 pm, Croatia and Slovakia will play their last Euro 2020 qualifier at Rujevica stadium in Rijeka. Three days later, a friendly against Georgia is scheduled in Pula.

The team will gather in Zagreb on November 11, where they will hold a charity dinner for the Vatreno Srce Foundation the same evening and will stay in Opatija from November 12 to prepare for the match against Slovakia at NK Rijeka’s stadium. 

On Monday, coach Zlatko Dalic announced the list for the upcoming qualifier, which features the return of two important players - Marseille stopper Duje Ćaleta-Car was called back to the national team for objective reasons, while striker Andrej Kramarić, who scored two goals after returning to the pitch just a week ago, has recovered from his injury.

There is no Domagoj Vida or Dejan Lovren on Dalić's list, as they cannot compete against Slovakia due to yellow cards. The player list also includes four potential call-ups - Marko Rog, Filip Bradarić, Marin Leovac and Josip Juranović, who will be activated if the need arises before the first or second game.

“There is a big game ahead of us in Rijeka and I fully believe these players will respond to such a challenge in the right way. We will not be distracted by the match in Trnava, Slovakia is a very good team and can be a very dangerous opponent. Still, Croatia has higher quality, experience and the overwhelming ambition to cheered for as a nation like in Russia. With the support of the full stadium, I do not doubt a positive and successful finish to these qualifications,” said coach Zlatko Dalic.

Recall, Croatia topped Slovakia 4:0 in Trnava in September. 

List of players for Slovakia and Georgia:

Goalkeepers: Lovre Kalinić (Aston Villa), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo), Simon Sluga (Luton Town)

Defenders: Tin Jedvaj (Augsburg), Matej Mitrović (Club Brugge), Borna Barišić (Glasgow Rangers), Karlo Bartolec (Kobenhavn), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Marseille), Mile Škorić (Osijek), Dario Melnjak (Rizespor), Dino Perić (Dinamo)

Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (CSKA Moskva)

Attackers: Ivan Perišić (Bayern), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Rebić (Milan), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Bruno Petković (Dinamo), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo)

Call-ups: Marko Rog (Cagliari), Filip Bradarić (Hajduk), Marin Leovac (Dinamo), Josip Juranović (Hajduk)

Source: Gol.hr

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October 25, 2019 - For the second year in a row, the Vatreno Srce Foundation, founded more than ten years ago by the players and staff of the Croatia national football team, will hold a donation campaign to raise funds for the treatment and education of children in Croatia.

HRT reports that the action will take place on November 11th with a broadcast on HRT 2 starting at 8 pm. Donations will also be collected through a call center featuring Croatia national team members, staff members, and numerous public figures as well as friends of the national team.

Ahead of the decisive qualifying match for EURO 2020 against Slovakia on November 16 at Rujevica stadium, the 2018 World Cup finalists will rejoin forces and help raise money for the Pediatric Clinic of the Kantrida Children's Hospital and for 'Step to Life' (Korak u život), which helps children without adequate parental care to continue their university education.

HRT screenshot 2018

“In the last two years on the Croatia national team bench, I have convinced myself that our national team has an incredibly big heart. They have shown it a lot of times on the pitch, and that is why they are great football players, but they also show it off the pitch, and that is why they are great people.

I am looking forward to a new donor dinner. I urge all fans to make their contribution this time from the heart and show that they are always with the team, both in the stadiums and in these actions,” said coach Zlatko Dalic, who is also a member of the Foundation's Board of Directors.

HRT screenshot 2018

“Participating in the Vatreno Srce Foundation is one of the most important roles of every captain of the Croatia national team, and on behalf of teammates, I can say that we are proud to be socially engaged in this way, as a team, to help children and the youth. Maybe, thanks to the popularity of football, we are many role models. Still, the biggest heroes are the children who are heroically battling diseases and the youth who do not have the right conditions for education. I am convinced that our fans agree with that and, therefore, I urge them to support the Vatreno Srce Foundation again,” said Croatia captain Luka Modric.

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October 16, 2019 - A press release by HNS on Wednesday regarding the location of Croatia's final Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia next month. 

"The Croatian Football Federation has put an end to the speculation on possibly changing Croatia’s home match against Slovakia and confirms that the decisive match for EURO 2020 will be played on November 16 at the HNK Rijeka stadium, as originally decided.

As the HNS Executive Board decided at a session held on July 11 this year, the Croatia-Slovakia match in the European Qualifications for EURO 2020 will be played in Rijeka. Recall that the Croatian national team needs one point in that match in order to secure a spot in the European Championships next year. 

Considering the extreme importance of the match, the HNS management considered the possibility of playing in a larger stadium that could meet the expected great interest of Croatian fans. However, the previously held view is that the qualifications will be played in the four largest Croatian cities and after Zagreb, Osijek and Split, the World Cup finalists will be welcomed in this cycle by Rijeka.

The unique view of HNS is that in Rijeka, the team will have ideal conditions for their preparations for the match and great support at the HNK Rijeka stadium. Information about ticket sales will be published at a later date on the HNS website."

Recall, Croatia last played at Rujevica behind closed doors in a UEFA Nations League match against England on October 12, 2018. They played a friendly in front of fans against Jordan there three days later. 

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August 8, 2019 - NK Rijeka opened their Europa League season in the 3rd round of the qualifiers against Scottish club Aberdeen on Thursday at Rujevica stadium. Commentators said around 6,500 spectators were in attendance.

Gol.hr reports that NK Rijeka missed a handful of critical opportunities in the first half, which ended without goals for either club. Rijeka, however, was given their golden chance to take the lead in the 62nd minute after Logan unnecessarily pulled Capan down in the penalty area, which the referee immediately whistled for a pen. Čolak fiercely shot down the middle as goalkeeper Lewis chose to move to the left. Rijeka took the 1:0 lead. 

At the very end of the duel, in the 88th minute, Halilović found the foot of Murić who nailed the bottom right corner from 18-meters out. Lewis was powerless in goal, and Rijeka led 2:0 for the final score of the game. 

"I am proud of my players and if it were 0:0 I would be pleased, let alone with 2:0. Everything we spoke about was fulfilled, and we were even physically equal. We have a nice advantage and Aberdeen will surely play differently in the return match. But if we play like we did tonight, then we will definitely pass,” said NK Rijeka coach Igor Bišćan.

Recall, the Scottish club was never a fond memory for Rijeka fans. Four years ago, they eliminated Rijeka in the Europa League qualifying round at Kantrida in a 3:0 blowout. 

The return match will be played at Pittodrie Stadium in Aberdeen, Scotland in one week. If Rijeka advances, they will play the winner of the duel between AEK Larnaca and Ghent.

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Croatia and England met for their UEFA Nations League match on October 12, 2018, in front of an empty Rujevica stadium in Rijeka. TCN was there to experience the quiet. 

"It will be my first time playing a game like this.”

After Dinamo came in first in the Croatian First League, Rijeka has now secured second while Hajduk has placed third. 

Representatives of Armada also proposed for the iconic stadium to be made part of the project European Capital of Culture 2020