HNK Rijeka travels to face Gorica in the fifth round of the SuperSport HNL on Tuesday evening. The match at the stadium in Velika Gorica kicks off at 21:00 and is broadcast live on MAXSport 1.

This is Rijeka's first match following the conclusion of the European season four days ago. According to a report from Index.hr Sport, the hosts Gorica enter the fixture without a single point in the league. Rijeka, meanwhile, currently sits fifth in the HNL with six points from three games, recording two wins and one loss (2W-0D-1L). Their recent form reads WLW.

Who is officiating the match?

The main referee for this encounter is Ante Terzić from Podstrana. He will be assisted by Darija Kolarević and Antu Matić. The fourth official is Luka Slišković. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by Fran Jović, with Goran Patakija serving as the Assistant VAR. This officiating team has the task of managing a match between two sides desperate for points.

What is the squad situation?

Gorica will rely on players such as Ante Erceg, Jakov Filipović, Wisdom Sule, and Hadji Issa Moustapha in this round. Rijeka will be without the injured Teo Barišić. Barišić's injury is one factor the manager must consider ahead of the trip to Velika Gorica. Rijeka's goal difference this season is level, having scored five and conceded five. You can track the full squad status on our squad page.

What does this match mean for the standings?

For Rijeka, this is an opportunity to strengthen their position in the upper half of the table. They currently trail leaders NK Osijek by six points. A win in Velika Gorica could close that gap. However, Gorica will undoubtedly be a dangerous opponent desperately seeking their first points of the season. This fixture is an important early-season test for both teams.

Following this away match, Rijeka faces a direct showdown for the top of the table on Saturday, September 5th, 2026. They will host league leaders NK Osijek at Kantrida. That match will be significant for the title race, and details can be found on our fixtures page. The current placement of all teams is available on the standings page. Rijeka must show consistency to remain in touch with the frontrunners.