NK Varteks Varazdin claimed a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over NK Osijek in the Croatian Football League on February 8, 2026. This important win at the Stadion Anđelko Herjavec helped Varteks in their quest for a top-half finish, while Osijek's European ambitions suffered a setback. Varteks started brightly and were rewarded with an early goal from a direct free-kick. Osijek responded strongly and leveled the score before halftime with a scrappy goal from a corner. The second half was an end-to-end affair, with the winner coming for Varteks in the 70th minute following a defensive mix-up that allowed their forward to slot the ball home. The three points were celebrated wildly by the home fans, as the result provided crucial breathing space in the congested middle of the league table.