Osijek on Saturday at 6:30 PM in Velika Gorica against the new top-flight side seeks to confirm a great start to the season, but coach Federico Bessone is particularly cautious and won't hear of any complacency.
Osijek's footballers play their second SuperSport HNL match on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM. After defeating Gorica in the season opener, the Blue-Whites return to Velika Gorica, but this time they face Zagreb's Rudeš, a team that lost to Rijeka in the first round.
Osijek's coach, Federico Bessone, is aware that his team faces a completely different challenge. Although satisfied with what he saw in the first round, he emphasizes that there is no room for complacency.
At the pre-match press conference, Bessone stressed that maintaining a high level of play and concentration is his top priority.
"This is now the toughest task for me as a coach. We had a great performance at the start, but that's just one game. It would be a big mistake to relax now. We must maintain the same level of play and fighting spirit. We are preparing for a different match; Rudeš is a different story compared to Gorica," Bessone told SiB.
The coach emphasized that he is not tied to a single starting lineup and that all players who got a chance against Gorica, including those who came off the bench, performed at a high level. His philosophy is clear: the team must have personality and constantly go for more goals.
Although Rudeš is a newcomer to the league, Bessone does not underestimate the opponent. He is aware of their qualities and announces that his team will have to be at their best to avoid an unpleasant surprise.
"Rudeš has just entered the HNL, but there is not the slightest complacency. If we don't fight for every ball, that would be the biggest mistake we could make. They are solid and very combative; above all, we must play smart, show aggression, and be ready for their quick transitions. We must not lose the ball carelessly in midfield. Their greatest strength is that they are at a very good level in terms of running," Bessone analyzed.
The victory in the season opener brought great confidence to the Osijek dressing room, but the coach has already told his players that that match is in the past. The focus is now solely on the new challenge and confirming good performances in continuity, which is key to regaining full fan support at Opus Arena.
Bessone particularly praised young Jona Ježić, who got a chance in midfield in the first round and fully justified it. He noted that he deliberately skipped the more experienced Petrusenko because he felt Ježić was ready for that role and possesses the necessary personality.
He also commented on the new role of Domagoj Bukvić, whom he has placed in the playmaker position.
"Bukvić has already shown that he can play almost any position, except maybe goalkeeper. He excels in all others; he has a lot of quality and great knowledge of the game. For me as a coach, it's great to be able to use him where I need him most at any given moment," Bessone concluded.
Statistics are on the visitors' side. Osijek and Rudeš have played 12 mutual matches in the HNL so far, with the Blue-Whites winning nine of them. They also recorded two draws and only one defeat, with an impressive goal difference of 27:11. Away against the Zagreb side, they have won four times, with the dramatic match from July 2023 particularly remembered, when Osijek came from behind to win 4:3.
However, in the Osijek camp, no one is paying attention to old numbers. They are aware that to earn new points, they will have to repeat the approach and fighting spirit from the first round, otherwise an unpleasant afternoon in Velika Gorica awaits them.
