Levi Rothermund
Rijeka travel to Grosuplje on 30 June to face Slovenian lower-division side Brinje Grosuplje in what looks, on paper, like a very one-sided pre-season fixture. Rijeka, coached by experienced Slovenian manager Matjaz Kek, are a Croatian top-flight club with a world club ranking that dwarfs their hosts. Brinje Grosuplje, under Goran Markovic, sit at position 231 in this friendly tournament’s standings with a 1W-1L record in June, while Rijeka already picked up a win against Bravo earlier this month.
The interesting angle here is Kek coaching against a Slovenian side on Slovenian soil. He knows this environment well. That familiarity could mean a more focused, professional approach from Rijeka rather than a casual run-out.
Two players to watch: Rijeka’s attacking options will be central to everything Kek sets up, given the Croatian club’s clear quality advantage. On the Brinje side, their defensive midfielder will be key to any hope of keeping the scoreline respectable, as Brinje’s form shows a tendency toward low-scoring, tight matches.
Hot stat: Brinje Grosuplje have drawn three of their last five matches, including a 0-0 against Nafta and a 0-0 against Bilje. They are a side that defends deep and invites pressure. Rijeka, by contrast, beat Bravo 2-1 in their most recent outing but drew 0-0 with both Gorica and Istra 1961 earlier in June, suggesting they can struggle to break down organized defenses.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026, June Phase |
| 🏟 Venue: | Brinje Stadium, Grosuplje |
| 🗓️ Date: | 30.06.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 17:30 CEST |
Brinje Grosuplje vs Rijeka Prediction
Rijeka are the overwhelming favorites here. The class gap between a Croatian HNL club and a Slovenian lower-league outfit is significant, and Kek typically sets up his teams to be organized and direct. We think Rijeka win this comfortably, and the best value bet is a Rijeka win with over 2.5 goals in the match.
Brinje’s recent form tells a story of a side that does not concede easily in their own environment, going 0-0 twice in a row before beating Hunedoara 1-0. That defensive solidity might keep the first half tight, but Rijeka’s squad depth should tell over 90 minutes. Honestly, the bigger concern is whether Rijeka rotate heavily and lose sharpness in the final third, which their 0-0 results against Gorica and Istra suggest is a real pattern.
Brinje commit to a compact shape and rely on set pieces and transitions. Their foul count in recent matches points to a physical, disciplined defensive approach. Rijeka, on the other hand, tend to build through possession but can be passive when the opposition sits deep. Yellow cards could accumulate for Brinje as they look to break up Rijeka’s rhythm.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Rijeka to win both halves |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Brinje Grosuplje have played five matches in their recent run with mixed results. They beat Hunedoara 1-0 in their last outing, a result that confirms they can grind out wins against similarly ranked opposition. Before that, they lost 2-1 to CSKA Sofia, a club ranked inside the top 200 globally, which gives a useful reference point for how they handle better teams. Two 0-0 draws against Nafta and Bilje, and a 1-0 defeat to Aluminij, round out a picture of a defensively cautious side that struggles to create and convert chances against organized opponents. Their 50% win rate in the last 30 days flatters them slightly given the quality of opponents.
Rijeka’s recent matches paint a more layered picture. Their 2-1 win over Bravo in their last match was the most decisive result in a June run that also included three consecutive 0-0 draws. The loss to Dinamo Zagreb, 0-2, was their only defeat and came against one of the strongest clubs in the region. Rijeka showed they can be hard to break down, but also that breaking down deep-sitting teams is not always straightforward for them. Kek will want his side to be more aggressive in the final third here, and the step down in opposition quality compared to Dinamo Zagreb is substantial.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
There is no recorded head-to-head data available between Brinje Grosuplje and Rijeka. The table below reflects the aggregated stats from each team’s last five available matches for comparison.
| Statistic | Brinje Grosuplje | Rijeka |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 2 |
| Total shots | N/A | N/A |
| Free kicks | N/A | N/A |
| Corner kicks | N/A | N/A |
| Total fouls | N/A | N/A |
| Pass accuracy (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Interceptions | N/A | N/A |
| Offsides | N/A | N/A |
🚨Check out our dedicated Brinje Grosuplje vs Rijeka stats page for more info.
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Rijeka the Favourite
- Moneyline Brinje Grosuplje N/A | Rijeka N/A
- Draw N/A
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
No bookmaker odds were provided for this fixture. Given the enormous gap in club ranking and playing level, Rijeka would be heavy favorites in any market. We think the value, if odds become available, lies on Rijeka to win and on the under for both teams to score, given Brinje’s defensive record and Rijeka’s habit of drawing 0-0 in June friendlies.
Brinje Grosuplje. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
Brinje Grosuplje Possible Starting Eleven
No player-level data was available for Brinje Grosuplje from their recent matches. Based on their results and style, Goran Markovic likely sets up in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 defensive shape, prioritizing compactness and limiting space between the lines. Their defensive midfielder will be the player to watch, tasked with disrupting Rijeka’s build-up play. Brinje’s forwards will be asked to press high and look for transitions rather than sustained possession.
Rijeka Possible Starting Eleven
No detailed player data was available for Rijeka either, which is common for pre-season friendly fixtures. Matjaz Kek typically favors a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, with disciplined defensive lines and direct attacking play. Expect rotation across the squad, but Kek will likely field a strong enough starting eleven to secure the win. Rijeka’s attacking midfielder or number ten role will be the position to watch, as that player will be the link between midfield and the forward line against a compact Brinje defense.
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Rijeka. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
Rijeka win this. The quality difference is too large to ignore, and Matjaz Kek’s experience managing exactly this type of fixture, a Croatian top-flight side against modest lower-division opposition, points toward a professional, controlled performance. Brinje will defend deep, maybe frustrate Rijeka for a period, but Rijeka’s squad depth and technical quality should produce at least two goals across the 90 minutes.
We back Rijeka to win, with the match staying under 3.5 goals total given both sides’ tendency toward low-scoring games this month. Both teams to score lands as a No, with Brinje’s attack unlikely to trouble a Rijeka back line that kept clean sheets in three of their last five matches. The hot tip of Rijeka winning both halves carries decent logic if Kek names a strong starting eleven and the hosts fail to hold their defensive shape past the hour mark.
