HNK Rijeka continue their Croatian Cup campaign with a quarter-final match away to Karlovac. The game, set for Wednesday at the Branko Čavlović-Čavlek stadium, will decide who advances to the competition's semi-finals.
Rijeka's assistant coach Mate Maleš was clear about what is required from his team. He said Rijeka must be at their maximum, responsible, and effective in attack while solid in defense. He added that the opponent will not be easy, expecting a tough team that will be compact and look for chances mainly from counter-attacks. He noted Karlovac has many good players and the match will be demanding.
For Rijeka, this is a chance to extend their rich cup tradition. The club is one of only five to have won this trophy, and in the last ten editions they have reached the final seven times, winning four. They currently sit fifth in the HNL with 17 points from nine games, five points behind leaders Hajduk Split.
Karlovac, currently battling in the SuperSport Prva NL, arrives in good form with seven points from their last three matches. A recent 3:2 home win over BSK provided a confidence boost. An interesting subplot is the presence of two Rijeka players on loan at Karlovac: 19-year-old Maroje Kostopeč and 27-year-old Dominik Dogan. This will be the first meeting between the two clubs in 14 years.
Rijeka enter the match following a 2:1 league win over Rudes, with goals from Samuele Vignato and Toni Fruk. Their form in the last five games reads three wins and two defeats. The team's top scorer this season is D. Adu-Adjei with four goals. The match in Karlovac will be broadcast on Radio Rijeka starting at 18:00. A victory would secure Rijeka a place in the cup semi-finals and postpone a difficult trip to Zagreb until Sunday.
Read the full report at novilist.hr
