Kristijan Bistrović (Croatian pronunciation: [krǐstijan bǐstroʋitɕ];[1][2] born 9 April 1998) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Russian club CSKA Moscow.

Kristijan Bistrović
Bistrović with CSKA Moscow in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-04-09) 9 April 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Koprivnica, Croatia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
CSKA Moscow
Number 25
Youth career
Borac Imbriovec [hr]
Slaven Belupo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2018 Slaven Belupo 15 (0)
2018– CSKA Moscow 84 (6)
2021Kasımpaşa (loan) 20 (0)
2022Fatih Karagümrük (loan) 18 (1)
2022–2023Lecce (loan) 11 (0)
2023Fortuna Sittard (loan) 13 (1)
2023–2024Baltika Kaliningrad (loan) 23 (2)
International career
2015 Croatia U18 1 (0)
2019–2021 Croatia U21 18 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2024

Club career

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Slaven Belupo

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Bistrović made his senior debut for Slaven Belupo on 30 May 2015, coming on for Petar Mišić in 77th minute as Slaven lost 3–2 to Osijek.[3][4] His proper debut came during 2016–17 season after the winter break, when he joined the senior team permanently.[3] In summer 2017, during the preseason, Slaven drew 1–1 with Russian champions Spartak Moscow in a friendly match in Villach on 7 July. Slaven's equalizer was a joint effort of Bistrović and Bruno Bogojević, who netted it in.[5] The match helped Bistrović attract attention of the Russian market, with Spartak's rivals CSKA Moscow's coach Viktor Goncharenko insisting that the club buys the young Croatian.[3]

CSKA Moscow

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On 12 January 2018, CSKA Moscow signed Bistrović for 500,000 until the summer of 2022.[6][7] At the time of signing for the Moscow club, Bistrović had made only sixteen appearances for Slaven.[3] On 8 March, he made his debut for the team in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 match against Lyon where he came on as a substitute for Alan Dzagoev in the 82nd minute.[8] In the quarter-final home leg against Arsenal on 12 April, he was praised for his performance as CSKA drew 2–2, but nevertheless failed to progress to the semi-finals.[9]

On 27 July, he played the whole game in the 2018 Russian Super Cup as CSKA defeated Lokomotiv Moscow 1–0 after extra time, earning Bistrović his first career trophy.[10][11][12] He scored his first goal for CSKA on 18 August to contribute to a 3–0 victory over Arsenal Tula.[13] On 1 September, he scored and assisted in a 4–0 victory over Ural Yekaterinburg, but suffered an ankle injury in closing minutes of the game.[14][15] He came back to the team as an injury time substitute for Arnór Sigurðsson in a 2–0 victory over Zenit Saint Petersburg on 11 November.[16] Sixteen days later, he made his Champions League debut in a 2–1 defeat to Viktoria Plzeň.[17]

On 24 November 2019, he provided his compatriot Nikola Vlašić with an assist for the only goal in the 1–0 victory over Krylia Sovetov Samara.[18]

On 20 September 2020, he scored the only goal in the 1–0 victory over Ufa.[19] Seven days later, he received two yellow cards and was sent off as Lokomotiv Moscow defeated CSKA 1–0.[20][21] On 10 December, he scored his first European goal, as CSKA lost 3–1 to Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.[22] It was notably the first and only goal Dinamo conceded in the group stage.[23]

Loan to Kasımpaşa

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On 22 January 2021, he joined Kasımpaşa on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season. Kasımpaşa had an option to make transfer permanent at the end of the loan term.[24]

Loan to Fatih Karagümrük

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On 12 January 2022, he joined Fatih Karagümrük on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season, with Fatih Karagümrük having an option to make transfer permanent at the end of the loan term.[25]

Loan to Lecce

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On 24 July 2022, Bistrović joined Serie A club Lecce on a season-long loan, with the option for a permanent transfer.[26]

Loan to Fortuna Sittard

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On 17 January 2023, Lecce announced that Bistrović agreed to a new loan to Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands.[27] Fortuna confirmed the loan two days later.[28] He made his debut for the club on 25 January 2023, starting in a 2–0 league victory against SC Heerenveen.[29] On 3 March, he scored his first goal for Fortuna, helping the side to a 2–1 comeback win over Utrecht.[30]

Loan to Baltika Kaliningrad

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On 14 September 2023, Bistrović moved to Russian Premier League club Baltika Kaliningrad on loan with an option to buy.[31] Baltika's manager Sergei Ignashevich was the teammate of Bistrović at CSKA in the 2017–18 season. In his debut game for Baltika on 16 September 2023 he scored an added-time equalizer in a 2–2 draw with Rostov.[32]

International career

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Bistrović represented Croatia on youth levels. He was named in Nenad Gračan's 23-man squad for 2019 UEFA Under-21 Euro. However, he failed to make a single appearance as Croatia finished last in their group.[33] Two years later, he was again named in Igor Bišćan's 23-man squad for the group stage of 2021 UEFA Under-21 Euro.[34] He played all three group games as Croatia passed their group for the first time in history.[35][36][37]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 8 December 2024[38]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Slaven Belupo 2014–15 Prva HNL 1 0 0 0 1 0
2015–16 Prva HNL 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Prva HNL 2 0 0 0 2 0
2017–18 Prva HNL 12 0 1 0 13 0
Total 15 0 1 0 16 0
CSKA Moscow 2017–18 Russian Premier League 7 0 0 0 2[b] 0 9 0
2018–19 Russian Premier League 20 2 0 0 2[c] 0 1[d] 0 23 2
2019–20 Russian Premier League 28 1 2 0 6[b] 0 36 1
2020–21 Russian Premier League 14 2 0 0 6[b] 1 20 3
2021–22 Russian Premier League 6 1 2 1 8 2
2024–25 Russian Premier League 9 0 6 1 15 1
Total 84 6 10 2 16 1 1 0 111 9
Kasımpaşa (loan) 2020–21 Süper Lig 20 0 20 0
Fatih Karagümrük (loan) 2021–22 Süper Lig 18 1 2 0 20 1
Lecce (loan) 2022–23 Serie A 11 0 1 0 12 0
Fortuna Sittard (loan) 2022–23 Eredivisie 13 1 13 1
Baltika Kaliningrad (loan) 2023–24 Russian Premier League 23 2 8 1 31 3
Career total 184 10 22 3 16 1 1 0 223 14
  1. ^ Includes Croatian Cup, Russian Cup, Turkish Cup and Coppa Italia
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearance in Russian Super Cup

Honours

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CSKA Moscow

References

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  1. ^ "Krìstijan". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 March 2018. Krìstijan
  2. ^ "bȉstar". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 March 2018. Bìstrović
  3. ^ a b c d Vrdoljak, Juraj (15 June 2019). "Tko je Kristijan Bistrović?". Telesport (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ^ "NK OSIJEK – NK SLAVEN BELUPO 3:2 (2:1)". NK Slaven Belupo (in Croatian). 30 May 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Slaven odigrao 1:1 s moskovskim Spartakom". Goal.com (in Croatian). 7 July 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Кристиян Бистрович стал армейцем". pfc-cska.com (in Russian). PFC CSKA Moscow. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  7. ^ "CSKA doveo "hrvatskog bisera" pred Zvezdu". Mondo.ba (in Bosnian). 13 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  8. ^ Tironi, Hrvoje (10 March 2018). "Bistrović: Veću sam tremu imao u debiju za Slaven". Goal.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  9. ^ Lovrić, Dejan (13 April 2018). "Hrvatska senzacija iz Moskve: Bistrović izdominirao 'topnike'". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  10. ^ "CSKA osvojio ruski Superkup". SportSport.ba (in Bosnian). 27 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  11. ^ "CSKA Moscow win Russian Super Cup". The Rahnuma Daily. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  12. ^ Tironi, Hrvoje (30 July 2018). "Kristijan Bistrović: Ruse sam malo provocirao zbog Svjetskog prvenstva, a za Hrvatsku sad ne mogu igrati". Goal.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  13. ^ Šmehil, Dejan (18 August 2018). "Prekrasan prvijenac Kristijana Bistrovića za CSKA u pobjedi nad Arsenalom! Debitirao Nikola Vlašić, Milović strijelac". Goal.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Виктор Ганчаренко: Много огрехов, которые надо устранять перед Лигой чемпионов". PFC CSKA Moskva (in Russian). 1 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  15. ^ Šipuš, Dino (9 September 2018). "KRISTIJAN BISTROVIĆ: Ovdje se osjećam kao kod kuće, a ozljeda je ipak ozbiljnija". Drava.info (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  16. ^ Lysenko, Oleg (11 November 2018). "Чалов затмил Дзюбу, ЦСКА переиграл "Зенит"". Championat (in Russian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  17. ^ Tironi, Hrvoje (19 December 2018). ""Kako Viktoria igra, to nikad još nisam doživio! Ali Dinamo ide dalje"". Goal.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  18. ^ J. B. (24 November 2019). "VIDEO Čudesni Vlašić zabio gol karijere za pobjedu, asistirao mu Bistrović". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  19. ^ Hrnčić, Fabijan (20 September 2020). "Bistrović zakucao pod prečku za slavlje, krasan dribling Vlašića". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  20. ^ Pahomov, Aleksandr (27 September 2020). ""Локомотив" победил ЦСКА в московском дерби". RBC (in Russian).
  21. ^ Sušec, Siniša (27 September 2020). "Bitka za Moskvu pripala kapetanu Ćorluki, Vlašić poražen, treći Hrvat dobio crveni pola sata prije kraja". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  22. ^ Ničota, Tomo; Mršnik, Patrik (10 December 2020). "Dinamo slavi, ali ipak nije postao svjetski rekorder! Hrvat pokvario potpuni show Modrih na Maksimiru". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  23. ^ Junaci, Robert (11 December 2020). "Zoran Mamić: Nije mi žao što je baš Bistrović zabio, meni je važnija bila pobjeda". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Кристиян Бистрович продолжит сезон в Турции" (in Russian). PFC CSKA Moscow. 22 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Кристиян Бистрович завершит сезон в Турции". pfc-cska.com/ (in Russian). PFC CSKA Moscow. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Bistrovic è un nuovo calciatore del Lecce". U.S. Lecce (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  27. ^ "BISTROVIC: RAGGIUNTO L'ACCORDO PER LA CESSIONE" (in Italian). U.S. Lecce. 17 January 2023.
  28. ^ "KRISTIJAN BISTROVIĆ SLUIT OP HUURBASIS AAN IN SITTARD" (in Dutch). Fortuna Sittard. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  29. ^ Sporken, Rob (23 January 2023). "Nieuwe Fortunees Kristijan Bistrovic speelgerechtigd tegen Heerenveen". De Limburger (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Dramaweek Utrecht compleet na thuisnederlaag tegen Fortuna Sittard". NOS (in Dutch). 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  31. ^ "ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ В БАЛТИКУ" (in Russian). FC Baltika Kaliningrad. 14 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Baltika v Rostov game report". Russian Premier League. 16 September 2023.
  33. ^ Čeko, Marko (25 June 2019). "Jesu li zaslužili više? Trojici igrača Gračan nije dao ni minute". Gol.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  34. ^ Kajtazi Roth, Anita (9 March 2021). "Bišćan objavio popis igrača za U-21 Euro: Na njemu najviše igrača Dinama i neka nova imena". Gol.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  35. ^ Hina (30 March 2021). "Bišćan spreman za Engleze: Ipak, jedna stvar ne bi bila pametna". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  36. ^ Olivari, Davorin (31 March 2021). "Hrvatski veznjak odlučan uoči utakmice odluke: 'Englezi ne mogu biti motiviraniji od nas, nema šanse'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  37. ^ Ničota, Tomo (31 March 2021). "VIDEO: Hrvatska je u četvrtfinalu! Pogledajte čudesni, spasonosni gol Bradarića u sudačkoj nadoknadi!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  38. ^ Kristijan Bistrović at Soccerway
  39. ^ "2018 Russian Super Cup game report" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 27 July 2018. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
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