Slaven Belupo 0-1 Debreceni VSC
International Club Friendly | 10 July 2026 | 17:30 local time

Debreceni VSC kicked off their pre‑season preparations with a hard‑fought 1-0 victory over Croatian Prva HNL side Slaven Belupo at the Stadion Ivan Kušek‑Apaš in Koprivnica. A solitary second‑half goal settled the contest in a match that served as an important fitness run for both clubs ahead of their respective domestic campaigns.

Match Overview

The friendly was played at a high tempo from the outset, with both managers using the opportunity to test new formations and give minutes to fringe players. Slaven Belupo started brightly, pressing high and forcing errors from the Debrecen defence, but the Hungarian side grew into the game as the first half progressed, enjoying more possession and creating half‑chances through set‑pieces.

Key Moments

• 22nd minute – Slaven Belupo’s striker Luka Stojanović latched onto a through ball but his low shot was parried away by Debrecen goalkeeper Balázs Megyeri.
• 38th minute – Debrecen’s winger András Szabó cut inside and curled a shot just wide of the far post, the closest the visitors came in the opening period.
• 56th minute – The breakthrough arrived. A corner kick was flicked on at the near post, and centre‑back Márk Kertész rose highest to power a header into the roof of the net from six yards out.
• 74th minute – Slaven Belupo substitute Ivan Čolak received a red card for a reckless challenge on Debrecen midfielder Dániel Tőzsér, reducing the hosts to ten men for the final quarter‑hour.

Tactical Story

Slaven Belupo, under new head coach Goran Sablić, experimented with a 3‑5‑2 system designed to overload the midfield. The approach worked well in the opening stages, but Debrecen’s more experienced side gradually adapted. Debrecen manager Szabolcs Huszti instructed his full‑backs to push high, stretching the Slaven defence and creating space for Kertész’s goal from the set‑piece. After the red card, Slaven were forced into a defensive shell, and Debrecen comfortably saw out the win.

Standout Players

• Márk Kertész (Debreceni VSC) – The match‑winner with a commanding header, Kertész also won five aerial duels and looked sharp in his first pre‑season outing.
• Balázs Megyeri (Debreceni VSC) – The veteran goalkeeper made two smart saves to keep the clean sheet, including a diving stop in the first half.

Pre‑Season Context

For Debreceni VSC, who finished third in the Hungarian NB I last season, the friendly is part of a three‑match tour of Croatia designed to build fitness and tactical cohesion. Slaven Belupo, meanwhile, are preparing for their new Prva HNL season, which kicks off in three weeks. The result will give Debrecen confidence as they aim to challenge for the title in 2026‑27.