Tonight, Thursday, July 27, the spanking new Opus Arena in Osijek will be staging its first European match when Hungarian team Zalaegerszeg visit for a Europa Conference League fixture at 8pm.
Conceived by young Croatian architect, Mislav Salitrežić, the new stadium was unveiled only a few days ago for a domestic league game with Slaven Belupo. Now the 13,000-capacity arena, of UEFA category 4 standard, will really be put to the test.
Delayed due to the pandemic, then the higher costs of materials, the Opus Arena will also be hosting Croatia’s vital Euro 2024 qualifying game with Turkey this October, six years after workmen first broke ground at this site close to the Drava river.