Osijek routed Rudeš 6-1 in the second round, with the brilliant Nail Omerović scoring three goals. New coach Federico Bessone has also revitalized Domagoj Bukvić, who shines in the central midfield role.
Osijek's footballers sit at the top of the HNL after two rounds. The Slavonian top-flight side has recorded a second consecutive victory, with a particularly impressive performance against newly promoted Rudeš, whom they defeated 6-1 at the stadium in Velika Gorica.
The main hero of the match was attacking player Nail Omerović, who found the back of Rudeš's net three times. His performance did not go unnoticed by statistical algorithms, as SofaScore awarded him a perfect rating of 10/10. In addition to his goals, Omerović completed 25 of 28 passes, had six shots, and provided one key pass.
Omerović's form at the start of the season represents a true revival compared to the previous period. Before the arrival of Argentine tactician Federico Bessone on the Osijek bench, this attacking player had scored only three goals in all of 2026. Now, one match against Rudeš was enough for him to match that tally, and in just two games of the new season, he has already surpassed that modest number.
Omerović, it should be recalled, was also one of the key players in the first round, when Osijek celebrated a 2-0 away win against Gorica, and he got on the scoresheet then as well.
Bessone's tactical solutions have not only benefited Omerović. A major gain is Domagoj Bukvić, a player who previously mostly featured as a full-back or winger, and whose form was on a downward trajectory. The Argentine coach decided to move him into midfield, in the central midfield position, and that move has proven to be a masterstroke.
Against Rudeš, Bukvić was the creator of play and recorded two assists. His statistics from the first round against Gorica were also impressive: he made eight key passes, completed all four dribble attempts, and had 30 accurate passes out of 34. Additionally, he took four shots and won 11 of 14 duels, making him one of the most deserving players for Osijek's excellent start to the new season.
