The tenth round of the Croatian First Football League (HNL) opens on Friday, 16 October 2026, with Rudeš facing Rijeka. The match takes place at the Gradski Stadium in Velika Gorica, with a 18:00 start time. The referee for the match is Antonio Škobić.
Rijeka enters the match as the fifth team in the league with 14 points, having played one match fewer than most of their rivals. Hajduk are at the top of the table with 19 points, with Varaždin close behind. Dinamo and Osijek are also in the mix for the top spots. Rudeš are in ninth place, level on points with Lokomotiva, but with a goal difference of minus 13.
Rudeš manager Alen Peternac believes the hardest period is behind his side. "I believe the hardest part is behind us. We started the season with seven players and we have been building the team up until the day before yesterday. We have been adjusting throughout the season, which has been extremely demanding. That is why this three-week break has come just in time. While others have taken time off, we have completed ten days of training. We are only now starting the season as I had intended. I am confident that we will be much more stable and better than in the first nine rounds," Peternac said.
Rijeka manager Matjaž Kek stressed that his side must focus on themselves. "We are going to a team that has shown it deserves the highest level of Croatian football. We have discussed our issues, seeking a solution in the dressing room and on the training ground. Rudeš have brought in several well-known first-division names, and it is clear that the team deserves respect and consideration. We have many unanswered questions, respecting the team of Rudeš, but we must first focus on ourselves as we are not good enough at the moment," said Kek.
The match will be broadcast live on the MAX Sport 1 TV channel, with live audio available intermittently on the second programme of Croatian Radio. The match can be watched on TV sets, smartphones, tablets, desktop and laptop computers, Android TV box devices, and smart TVs. More information about HNK Rijeka can be found at nk-rijeka.hr, while information about NK Rudeš is available at nk-rudes.hr.
The rest of the 10th round takes place over the weekend. On Saturday, 17 October 2026, at 15:00, Lokomotiva will face Istra 1961, while Osijek and Gorica will play at 18:00. On Sunday, 18 October 2026, at 15:00, the clash between Hajduk and Varaždin is scheduled, while from 18:00, Slaven Belupo will play against Dinamo.
