Slaven Belupo produced a composed second-half comeback to beat NK Varteks Varazdin 2-1 in the Croatian Football League on 25 October 2026, turning a difficult away fixture into a valuable three-point haul.

Varteks started brightly and gave their home supporters an early lift, but Slaven Belupo responded with control and patience before finding the winning goal in the closing stages. The result underlined the visitors’ growing confidence and left Varteks to reflect on a game that slipped away after a promising opening.

Match overview

The hosts pressed high from the first whistle, disrupting Slaven Belupo’s attempts to build from the back. That energy paid off when Varteks won a penalty and Matej Kolar converted to give them the lead. The home crowd sensed an opportunity, but Slaven Belupo refused to panic.

Instead, the visitors gradually imposed themselves through midfield. Their equaliser arrived shortly before half-time, with Marko Barišić arriving late in the box to finish a well-worked move. That goal changed the momentum and set up a second half in which Slaven looked the more likely winner.

Key moments

• 14th minute: Varteks were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the area, and Matej Kolar made no mistake from the spot.
• 39th minute: Slaven Belupo equalised through Marko Barišić after a patient passing sequence.
• 58th minute: Varteks’ goalkeeper made a strong save to keep the score level.
• 74th minute: Slaven Belupo’s substitute forward scored the winner with a first-time finish inside the box.
• 88th minute: Varteks pushed bodies forward, but Slaven’s defence held firm.

Tactical story

Varteks’ early approach was aggressive and direct, with the front line pressing Slaven Belupo’s defenders in an attempt to force mistakes. It worked initially, but the hosts struggled to sustain that intensity after taking the lead. Slaven gradually found more space between the lines and began to dictate possession.

The key adjustment came in midfield, where Slaven pushed one player higher to occupy Varteks’ deepest midfielder. That allowed the visitors to recycle the ball more effectively and create overloads on the flanks. The winning goal came from exactly that kind of patient buildup, with Slaven switching play before delivering into the box.

Standout performers

Barišić was influential throughout, linking midfield and attack and scoring the equaliser that settled Slaven’s nerves. The substitute who scored the winner also made a decisive impact. For Varteks, Kolar’s penalty and overall work rate were positives, while the goalkeeper kept the home side in the contest with a fine second-half save.

What it means

The win strengthens Slaven Belupo’s position in the Croatian Football League standings and gives them momentum heading into their next fixtures. Varteks, meanwhile, remain in search of consistency after another result that promised more than it delivered.

For Varteks, the challenge is clear: turning bright starts into full matches. For Slaven Belupo, the comeback victory is evidence of a side capable of managing difficult away games and finding solutions when the initial plan is tested.