Arjun Menon
Opus Arena hosts the Croatian Cup Final, Dinamo Zagreb versus Rijeka, a matchup that has rarely felt so evenly balanced. Zagreb, perennial domestic heavyweights, step onto the pitch under Mario Kovacevic with a recent unbeaten streak and a confidence that borders on arrogance. Their momentum feels nearly unstoppable, but Rijeka, marshaled by Víctor Sánchez, have become specialists at muddling up the script. The bookmakers see a three-way split in outcomes—no overwhelming favourite, just tension and history between two clubs that have sparred in finals before. One oddity: Rijeka’s away form oscillates between stubborn and erratic, but they love these underdog moments.
All eyes will land on Dinamo’s Dion Drena Beljo, who’s bagged 7 goals in his last 6 games—he’s the sort of striker that bends entire defensive lines to his will. Rijeka’s Tiago Dantas, recently explosive in midfield with 4 goals in 5, brings a technical flair and a penchant for finding space where none should exist.
Hot stat? Dinamo haven’t tasted defeat in their last ten matches across all competitions. That sort of streak… gets inside opponents’ heads.
| 🏆 Tournament: | Croatian Cup 2025/26 Final |
| 🏟 Venue: | Opus Arena, Osijek |
| 🗓️ Date: | 13.05.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 18:00 CEST |
Dinamo Zagreb vs Rijeka prediction
Best value sits on Dinamo Zagreb to lift the trophy. We think their unwavering consistency—17 wins in 23 this year, unbeaten in the last ten—and a forward line that finds the net even when pressed, just tip the scales. Rijeka have a way of dragging games into chaos, but their 33% win rate in the last month says something ugly about their ability to grind out results against the top tier.
Dinamo play a high-possession, controlled style, racking up 2,466 passes in their last five. Their pass accuracy, a slick 88%, means patience and fewer turnovers. Rijeka’s numbers (1,841 passes, 84% accuracy) aren’t bad, but they’re more direct, more reckless—shown by their higher foul (83 vs Dinamo’s 73) and yellow card (7 each, but Rijeka picked up 2 reds) counts. Expect a physical midfield battle. That might slow the rhythm, or it might open up late as Rijeka chase. Discipline could be the difference; Dinamo’s calmness versus Rijeka’s edge.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Dinamo Zagreb to win & Over 2.5 goals |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 9.5 |
Team Analysis
Dinamo Zagreb’s last five: 2-0 over Hajduk Split, 2-1 over Gorica, 2-1 against Varazdin, 2-0 versus Istra 1961, and a 2-2 draw—also against Rijeka. This team doesn’t just win, it grinds, controlling tempo and suffocating opponents with waves of possession. Beljo’s scoring surge gives them an edge, but the collective is what shines. Their clean sheet against Hajduk was methodical, not spectacular, but it sent a message: we can lock it down when needed.
Rijeka? A bit of a riddle. In their last five: 3-0 win over Vukovar 1991, 3-0 over Lokomotiva, then a 0-0 with Hajduk Split, a disappointing 0-1 loss to Varazdin, and that 2-2 with Dinamo. They bounce between ruthless and ragged. Dantas is the heartbeat, but defensive lapses and a knack for picking up cards (two reds in recent games) hurt them. Vukovar and Lokomotiva were dispatched with flair; against bigger teams, cracks appear.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | Dinamo Zagreb | Rijeka |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 12 | 10 |
| Total shots | 86 | 79 |
| Free kicks | 4 | 2 |
| Corner kicks | 39 | 50 |
| Total fouls | 73 | 83 |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 88% | 84% |
| Interceptions | 39 | 47 |
| Offsides | 8 | 15 |
🚨Check out our dedicated Dinamo Zagreb vs Rijeka stats page for more info.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Dinamo Zagreb the favourite
- Moneyline Dinamo Zagreb 1.62–4.75 | Rijeka 1.61–4.81
- Draw 3.75–3.85
- Over/Under Over 2.5 1.90 | Under 2.5 1.80
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes 1.75 | No 2.00
Bookies keep hedging—no overwhelming favourite, but Dinamo’s consistency earns them the shorter odds. Draws aren’t rare between these two, but cup finals breed risk. Over 2.5 feels solid, both teams boast firepower and leaky moments. BTTS? Our team at TipsGG is almost unanimous—both nets ripple. Value sits with Dinamo, but it’s not the kind of match you’d bet your house on.
Possible Starting Lineups
Dinamo Zagreb possible starting eleven
- GK: Dominik Livaković
- DF: Niko Galesic, Moris Valincic, Bruno Goda, Matteo Perez Vinlöf
- MF: Josip Mišić, Marko Soldo, Gabriel Vidović
- FW: Dion Drena Beljo, Luka Stojkovic, Monsef Bakrar
Livaković is the foundation—his calm under pressure is contagious. The back four have played together most, with Galesic and Goda shoring up flanks. Mišić anchors midfield, supported by Soldo’s workrate and Vidović’s guile. Up front, Beljo leads, Stojkovic’s directness and Bakrar’s runs giving width and bite. They’ll stick to their 4-3-3. Watch Beljo and Mišić—if they click, Rijeka will struggle to contain.
Rijeka possible starting eleven
- GK: Martin Zlomislić
- DF: Ante Majstorović, Stjepan Radeljić, Justas Lasickas, Mladen Devetak
- MF: Amer Gojak, Tiago Dantas, Branko Pavić
- FW: D. Adu-Adjei, Duje Čop, Toni Fruk
Zlomislić stays busy—two recent clean sheets but defensive lapses surface at times. Majstorović and Radeljić organize the back line, Lasickas and Devetak bring support from wide. Dantas orchestrates in the middle, Gojak and Pavić sweep up chaos. Adu-Adjei, Čop, and Fruk offer unpredictability and pace. The 4-2-3-1 formation looks likely, with Dantas given license to roam. Dantas and Adu-Adjei are the ones to watch—both capable of breaking patterns and turning the tide.
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Rijeka. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
TipsGG Match Prediction
We think Dinamo Zagreb takes the cup, but it won’t be pretty. Rijeka will hit back, maybe first, maybe late—Beljo and Dantas both likely to feature on the scoresheet. Cards and corners pile up, tempers flare. Zagreb’s discipline, ball control, and recent unbeaten streak just outweigh Rijeka’s wild side. If this stays close late, Rijeka might get desperate and leave space—Zagreb could punish that. TipsGG punters call it: Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 Rijeka, possibly more open than recent finals.
