Zrinjski vs Arsenal Tivat

The match was effectively over inside the opening quarter-hour. Arsenal Tivat, who had lost 3-1 to Bokelj just eight days earlier, looked shell-shocked as Zrinjski's trio of early goals — all scored before the 16th minute — left them chasing a deficit they were never equipped to reduce. The 4-0 halftime scoreline extinguished any realistic prospect of a comeback.

N. Bilbija — Zrinjski's captain scored twice (15', 45'), the first arriving in the midst of the early blitz, the second a clinical finish on the stroke of half-time. The brace took his pre-season tally to at least three goals in four friendlies.

A. Nalić — Opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a well-taken finish, setting the tone for Zrinjski's dominant first half.

M. Ćuže — Made it 2-0 in the 12th minute and was a constant threat in the attacking third before being substituted at the interval.

T. Majić — Came off the bench to complete the scoring with a late strike in the 82nd minute, capping a performance that saw Zrinjski's depth players make their mark.

Zrinjski's 4-0 halftime lead tells the clearest story: the game was won in the first 45 minutes. The two second-half goals merely confirmed the gulf in class. Six different scorers contributed to the tally (Bilbija the only one with a brace), reflecting the breadth of Zrinjski's attacking threat. The match also passed without a single yellow or red card — unsurprising for a friendly where the result was never in doubt.

Zrinjski arrived at this fixture on the back of a 2-0 win over Široki Brijeg on 11 July, extending their pre-season momentum. Arsenal Tivat, by contrast, have now lost four of their last five pre-season outings — their only win in that run a narrow 1-0 victory over Mladost DG on 9 July.

Local outlet Radio Tivat reported that this friendly served as Zrinjski's generalna proba (dress rehearsal) before their European qualification campaign. The Bosnian side last competed in the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they faced Crystal Palace in the 2025/26 season. Arsenal Tivat, who are conducting mini pre-season preparations in nearby Međugorje, return to Tivat on Monday evening. The Montenegrin side will look to regroup before the start of the 2026/27 domestic season.

A mismatch from the first whistle. Zrinjski's quality — particularly in the opening 15 minutes — was far too sharp for an Arsenal Tivat side still finding its rhythm in pre-season. The 6-0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the gap between a side preparing for European competition and one building towards the Montenegrin top flight.