Istra 1961 drew 1‑1 with Slovenian champions Celje on 11 July 2026 in a closed friendly at Radomlje. Goals came from Hrvatin in the 28th minute for the hosts and Dukuly in the 60th for the visitors, highlighting the lack of experience in the young Pulian squad.

How did the match unfold?

The line‑up under coach Javier Cabello featured Kolić, Hrvatin, Nasraoui, Kumar, Celija, Kablar, Maurić, Frederiksen, Šaranić, Škafar‑Žužić and Jaganjac, with substitutes from the bench such as Paus‑Kunšt and Ayuma. Celje fielded a side with Leban, Vuklišević and Kvesić, and in the 60th minute Dukuly equalised. The game was open, but the Pulian side’s tactical immaturity was evident.

Why is experience essential?

The absence of seasoned players became stark after Heister, Radošević and Lončar left. Cabello is expected to act quickly – likely bringing in Sergio Fernandez and Saša Bjelanović, who could mentor the younger talents. These reinforcements should arrive before the HNL season kicks off, as the current eleven is the closest to a strike force, except for Smajl Prevljak recovering from a broken toe.

What does this mean for upcoming preparations?

The Celje result capped three warm‑up games – a 3‑0 win over Opatija and a 2‑2 draw with Romanian Arad preceded it. Istra 1961 debuted the new green‑yellow “Učka” kit and proved it can handle pressure, yet the next week will demand work on organization and attacking decisiveness. The club now looks ahead to the HNL opener and possible Champions League qualifying matches.

Where does the club stand in the league?

Currently Istra 1961 sits 6th in the HNL with 43 points, 12 wins, 7 draws and 17 losses from 36 games, and the last five results read LDWWL. The team has scored 39 goals and conceded 50, a –11 goal difference. They trail leaders Dinamo Zagreb by 43 points, and the most recent result was a 0‑2 defeat to Varaždin on 23 May 2026. These figures underline the need for extra effort and quality signings to avoid further slide in the table.