HNK Rijeka drew 1-1 with NK Lokomotiva Zagreb in HNL Round 7 on 12 September 2026 at Stadion Kranjčevićeva. Tiago Dantas gave Rijeka the lead in the 52nd minute after an assist from Justas Lasickas, while Marko Vešović equalised for Lokomotiva in the 65th minute with help from Dušan Vuković. Rijeka dominated possession with 66% compared to Lokomotiva’s 34%, and also had more shots (23-7) and corners (11-2).
Rijeka’s starting XI was: I. Vekič, A. Oreč, A. Majstorović, A. Husic, J. Lasickas, I. Ćubelić, B. Pavić, T. Fruk, Tiago Dantas, S. Vignato, D. Adu-Adjei under manager M. Kek. Lokomotiva lined up with: J. Posavec, F. Karačić, T. Triantafyllou, M. Čabraja, K. Čabrajić, F. Fetai, M. Vešović, I. Katić, L. Belcar, D. Vuković, N. Đurković under N. Jelavić. Substitutions saw Rijeka bring on Mohammad Mohebbi and Ante Matej Juric in the 76th minute for Ćubelić and Adu-Adjei, then Niko Janković replaced Vignato and Mladen Devetak came on for Lasickas in the 88th. Lokomotiva made three changes at 62nd minute, Lovre Kulusic for Katić, Matija Subotić for Đurković and Jakov Gurlica for Triantafyllou, then Pavle Smiljanić came on for Fetai at 74’ and Teodor Kralevski replaced Vešović at 88’.
Yellow cards were shown to D. Adu-Adjei (19’), Triantafyllou (24’), Vuković (35’), Majstorović (64’) and Lasickas (77’). Rijeka made 5 saves compared to Lokomotiva’s 4, and fouls were even (13-14) with Lokomotiva caught offside twice to Rijeka’s once.
The result leaves Rijeka fifth in the HNL table with 10 points from five games, following a WDWLW form (two wins, two draws, one loss in the last five). They are three points behind leaders HNK Hajduk Split, and their next fixture is at home against Hajduk on 19 September. The last meeting with Lokomotiva also ended 1-1, played on the same date at Zagreb’s ground.
Manager M. Kek said after the match: “We created chances but needed to be more clinical in front of goal.” Meanwhile, Jelavić commented: “We played disciplined and deserved this point in our fight to stay up.”
