NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs Sturm Graz II

The second goal in the 50th minute, so soon after half-time, effectively killed the contest. Sturm Graz II had held firm for 13 minutes after the restart before Lokomotiva struck, and the third goal followed 14 minutes later. The match was beyond reach by the hour mark.

Without named scorers in the official match data, the collective performance of Lokomotiva's forward line deserves mention. Four different goalscorers — or at least a spread of three goals in the second half — suggests depth in attack during a pre-season fixture where both sides would have made multiple substitutions.

The 4-0 scoreline and the clean sheet are the headline figures. A 1-0 half-time lead suggests Sturm Graz II were competitive for the first 37 minutes, but the three second-half goals indicate Lokomotiva's fitness or squad depth told as the game wore on. The absence of cards on either side is consistent with a pre-season friendly where tackling is typically dialled back.

This was Lokomotiva Zagreb's first pre-season fixture of the 2026-27 campaign. The HNL season for Croatian clubs typically begins in late July or early August, so this result provides a confidence-boosting start to their preparations. Sturm Graz II, the reserve side of Austrian Bundesliga club SK Sturm Graz, compete in the Austrian Regionalliga (third tier) and will view this as a useful fitness exercise against stronger opposition.

A one-sided pre-season friendly that told Lokomotiva more about their squad depth than it did about Sturm Graz II. The Croatian side did what they should against a team two divisions below their level, and the clean sheet will please the coaching staff. Sturm Graz II gained useful minutes but will face sterner tests in league action.