HNK Rijeka played out a 0-0 draw with HNK Gorica in the fifth round of the SuperSport HNL. The match in Velika Gorica ended goalless despite the visitors' dominance and a series of missed chances. The kickoff was delayed due to stadium lighting issues.
Rijeka entered the match following their elimination from European competition by Midtjylland. They currently sit fifth in the HNL table with six points from three games, which leaves them six points behind leaders NK Osijek.
The game started at 21:30, but players warmed up in darkness before the technical issues with the floodlights were resolved. Rijeka took the initiative early on. The first change for the visitors came in the 23rd minute when the injured Josip Devetak was replaced by Linas Lasickas. Rijeka's dominance did not translate into a goal. In the 54th minute, Tiago Dantas fired a long-range shot wide. In the 77th minute, Luka Fruk had a shot saved, and the rebound fell to Dantas, who hit the outside of the net.
Gorica had their best chance in the 85th minute when Antonio Pavičić got past three Rijeka defenders, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. The hosts also survived danger from a Rijeka corner in the 63rd minute, cleared by a header from Marko Kavelj. The referees showed only one yellow card, which went to Rijeka's defender Andrej Husić in the 58th minute.
The statistics reveal the core of the problem: Gorica have scored only two goals in their last five matches while conceding nine. However, in this match, Rijeka had more possession, an 84% passing accuracy, and created more chances. The key player in Rijeka's setup was Tiago Dantas, who averages nearly 40 accurate passes per match and dictates the tempo. Despite this, a lack of precision in the final third proved decisive.
On the other hand, Gorica remain winless after four rounds, with a goal difference of 2:9. Both of their season goals have been scored by Bruno Bogojević. The hosts' defensive lines managed to withstand the pressure and secure a valuable point. This result continues the head-to-head trend, where Rijeka have won six of the last eight meetings, although Gorica won the last home encounter 4-0.
Following this draw, Rijeka remain in fifth place with six points from three matches. They have two wins, one loss, and no draws, with a goal difference of five scored and five conceded. Their next match, a true test, is against league leaders NK Osijek at home.
This match was an opportunity for Rijeka to close the gap to the top, but missed chances prevented it. The team will need to find better efficiency ahead of the upcoming challenges. Their next fixture, against Osijek, is scheduled for Friday, September 5th, 2026, at Stadion Rujevica.
