To be fair, a draw was a likely outcome given the recent form of both sides. Zagreb hosted Trim Trebinje in a club friendly on August 22, 2026, and the two teams shared the points. The final score stood at 24:24.
And here's the thing about Zagreb's preparation: they have been testing their attack frequently. Their last five matches saw scores ranging from 24 to 34 goals, including a tough 26:29 loss to Kielce. The squad was clearly looking for rhythm before the league begins. The intensity against Trim Trebinje matched that training environment.
Trim Trebinje arrived with a reputation for open play. In their previous outings, they had played the second half a man up in terms of tempo, recording 39:38 and 37:24 victories against Slovenj Gradec. By then, the expectation was that this fixture would follow a similar pattern of end-to-end action. The visitors were looking for sharpness.
The game itself remained tight throughout. Neither side managed to pull clear, and the lead changed hands more than once. It is touch and go when you face a defence that refuses to collapse, and Zagreb found no easy answers against the visitors' structure.
The draw meant neither side lost ground in their preparations. Zagreb will take the defensive resilience shown by Trim Trebinje into their next session. It was a solid foundation for the season ahead, proving that the team can grind out results when the attack is quiet. The players seemed satisfied with the effort.