Istra 1961 vs Opatija

Playing in their new away kit ("Škuro") and lining up in a 4-2-3-1 shape under new head coach Javier Cabello — appointed in June 2026 — Istra dominated the opening half-hour without finding the breakthrough. Bangoura missed a one-on-one chance in the 8th minute, and Rozić had a goal-bound effort cleared off the line before Bangoura fired wide from another clear opening.

Šepić, a former Opatija player, unlocked the defence with a strike from distance after 30 minutes. Rozić then cut in from the left and curled a shot into the far corner of the net to make it 2-0 before the interval, per Glas Istre's match report.

Cabello changed the entire outfield XI at half-time, introducing a completely fresh set of players. Frederiksen hit the post early in the second half, while goalkeeper Kolić produced a sharp save from close range after a defensive error from young Nigerian centre-back Momoh.

Istra punished Opatija's missed chances with a well-worked move down the left. 16-year-old Croatia youth international Nik Škafar-Žužić initiated the attack, Kadušić continued the move, and Frederiksen finished from close range to make it 3-0 in the 80th minute.

Šepić's 30th-minute opener against his former club broke Opatija's resistance after a dominant but wasteful first half-hour from Istra. Opatija had held firm through early pressure and a goal-line clearance, but once Šepić scored from range, the floodgates opened — Rozić added a second nine minutes later and the game was effectively settled by half-time.

• Niko Šepić (Istra 1961): Scored the crucial opener against his former club with a well-struck long-range effort, settling any early nerves.
• Vinko Rozić (Istra 1961): Added the second with a composed finish from the left flank, curling into the far corner.
• E. Frederiksen (Istra 1961): Hit the post and was a constant threat after coming on at half-time, eventually scoring the third from close range following a flowing team move.
• 16-year-old Nik Škafar-Žužić (Istra 1961): The Croatia youth international made an immediate impact after being introduced at half-time, providing the assist for Frederiksen's goal with a driving run down the left.

Player of the Match: Niko Šepić — his goal against his former side broke the deadlock and set the tone for a controlled victory.

The 3-0 scoreline reflected Istra's superiority in the first half, where they created three clear chances before finally converting. Cabello's decision to field completely different XIs in each half — standard pre-season practice — meant the second period was more evenly contested, with Opatija creating a credible chance through Kolić's save. The clean sheet, against a side from the division below, will be the most encouraging takeaway for the new coaching staff.

This was the first match of pre-season for both sides. Istra 1961 finished 6th in the HNL (Croatian First League) in 2025/26 with 43 points (12 wins, 7 draws, 17 losses). Cabello, the Spanish manager appointed in late June, did not use five players — Prevljak, Jaganjac, Lončar, Albarracin and Goričan — who trained separately before the match.

Istra were scheduled to travel to Sveti Martin na Muri on 6 July for a six-day training camp, with further friendlies against Arada and Celje during the camp. Opatija continue their preparations for the 2026/27 Prva NL (Croatian second tier) season.

A straightforward pre-season opener for Istra 1961 against a lower-division opponent, handled professionally. The first XI looked sharp in the opening 45 minutes, the depth was tested in the second half, and the clean sheet plus three goals represent a solid start to the Cabello era. The friendly against Arada (reportedly a stronger test) will reveal more about where this squad stands ahead of the new HNL season.