Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
NK Osijek beat Budapest Honvéd 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at Opus Arena, with first-half goals from Nail Omerović and Ivan Dolček securing the win under Federico Bessone.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Osijek could not have scripted a better start. Centre-back Matej Jelenić launched a precise long ball from midfield after barely 100 seconds, and Nail Omerović collected it on the left flank, drove towards the penalty area and curled a low shot into the bottom-left corner from just outside the box. The ball was in the net before Honvéd had touched it in Osijek's half.
Captain Marko Malenica preserved the lead with a sharp save to deny Honvéd's Alić, while Jurišić went close for Osijek from inside the area. T. Somogyi tested Malenica again at the other end, but the goalkeeper stood firm.
Osijek doubled their lead in the 29th minute. Ivan Dolček collected possession around 20 metres from goal and unleashed a left-footed strike that arrowed into the top-right corner — a finish that drew applause from the home supporters. The goal was assisted by Armando Leon, a new signing from Andorra who is yet to be officially presented by the club, according to Telegram.hr.
Honvéd pulled one back in the 63rd minute when A. Szamosi converted inside the box to halve the deficit. The visitors pushed for an equaliser — Kovacs sent a shot over the crossbar, and Kalem had his effort blocked. Osijek substitute Balelo had a late opportunity on the counter-attack but opted to square the ball rather than shoot, and the chance went begging.
The Turning Point
Omerović's second-minute opener forced Honvéd onto the back foot immediately. The early strike gave Bessone's side the platform to control the first half with confidence, and Dolček's excellent second goal effectively decided the contest before the interval. Honvéd's improved showing after the break, rewarded by Szamosi's 63rd-minute strike, could not undo the damage of the opening half-hour.
Key Performers
- Nail Omerović (Osijek): Opened the scoring with a composed finish from distance inside two minutes and was a constant threat cutting in from the left flank before being substituted.
- Ivan Dolček (Osijek): Scored a stunning second goal from 20 metres with his weaker left foot — the kind of individual moment that lifts pre-season friendlies above mere fitness work.
- Marko Malenica (Osijek): The captain made two important first-half saves, denying Alić and Somogyi, to preserve the two-goal cushion during a period when Honvéd were growing into the game.
Player of the match: Ivan Dolček, for his decisive, match-winning strike.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The 2-0 half-time lead accurately reflects Osijek's first-half dominance. Bessone's side controlled possession, created the better chances and scored two fine goals. Honvéd's second-half improvement, culminating in Szamosi's 63rd-minute goal, came as Osijek rotated heavily in the second period — the hosts made 10 substitutions across the match, according to the official lineup. No cards were issued, typical of a pre-season friendly with competitive edge but no malice.
What It Means
This was Osijek's third pre-season friendly of the summer. After a 4-0 defeat to Hungarian side Paksi on 4 July and a 1-0 win over Azerbaijan's Neftçi on 13 July, Bessone's side now have two wins from three. The new SuperSport HNL season begins on 1 August 2026, with Osijek facing Gorica away. Honvéd, who recently regained their place in Hungary's top flight, continue their own preparations with a friendly against Kisvárda Master Good on 25 July 2026.
Osijek's lineup (from NK Osijek official): Malenica; Mustafić (Posavec), Kolarik (Ljubojević), Jelenić (Vrbanac), Jurišić (Kalem); Vrbančić (Petrusenko), Mikolčić (Bakti), Farkaš (Jovičić); Dolček (Bukvić), Omerović (Ljatifi), Leon (Barić, Balelo).
Verdict
A thoroughly professional pre-season display from Osijek, who showed the attacking intent Bessone wants to instil. The quick start, defensive solidity in the first half and willingness to play through pressure are encouraging signs ahead of the league opener. Honvéd's second-half response suggests they will be competitive in the upcoming NB I campaign, but they were outplayed in the first half by a side further along in their preparation cycle.
Match Events
Key match events between NK Osijek and Budapest Honved — 3 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2023
NK Osijek vs Budapest Honved Head to Head Results· 1
NK Osijek and Budapest Honved have met 1 times — NK Osijek won 0, Budapest Honved won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2023. Budapest Honved leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 3 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (1 for the home side, 2 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 1–2 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 19 Jul 2026