March 14, 2022 - The 27th round of the Croatian First League was held from March 11 to 13, 2022. This round featured the highly anticipated 'Eternal Derby' between Hajduk and Dinamo, while Osijek and Rijeka both complicated their fight for the title. Here is our HNL round 27 recap. 

Šibenik v. Lokomotiva (1:4)

Sibenik and Lokomotiva opened the 27th round on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Sibenik in front of 405 fans. 

Grezda put Sibenik in the lead with a goal in the 14th minute for 1:0. Kacavenda equalized for 1:1 in the 65th minute before Soldo put Lokomotiva in the lead two minutes later. Sibenik's Peric received his second yellow less than 5 minutes later, forcing Sibenik to play with a man down for the remainder of the match. Kacavenda scored again to make it 1:3 in the 76th minute and Tuci scored for 1:4 to confirm the Lokomotiva victory. 

Sibenik is currently in 8th place with 26 points while Lokomotiva is in 5th with 36. 

Slaven Belupo v. Istra 1961 (0:0)

Slaven Belupo and Istra met in Koprivnica on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

Neither team was able to score and the match ended 0:0. Belupo had 17 total shots to Istra's 7, of which only 4 were on target (Istra had only 2). Belupo received 5 yellow cards to Istra's 4. 

Belupo is currently in 7th place with 30 points, while Istra is in 9th with 24. 

Hajduk v. Dinamo (0:0)

Hajduk and Dinamo met for the highly anticipated 'Eternal Derby' at Poljud on Saturday, March 12. 

While the atmosphere was better than ever at the sold-out Poljud, for the first time full thanks solely to Hajduk's members and season ticket holders, the derby itself was one of the less exciting meetings between the two rivals. The match went without goals, though Hajdkuk had 3 shots on target to Dinamo's 0. Hajduk had slightly less possession than Dinamo (44%/56%). 

Hajduk is currently in 4th place with 49 points and a game in hand, while Dinamo is in 1st with 54 points and a game in hand. These two teams play last season's makeup match on April 20 at Poljud. 

Dragovoljac v. Rijeka (2:1)

Dragovoljac and Rijeka met in Zagreb on Sunday, March 13, 2022. 

Certainly the most shocking match of this round, Dragovoljac took the lead in the 23rd minute thanks to Peric (1:0). Peric opened the second half with another goal for 2:0 in the 50th minute. Ampem gave Rijeka some hope in the 74th minute scoring for 2:1, while VAR recalled a Dragovoljac goal in the 83rd minute for being offside. 

Dragovoljac is currently in the last place with 13 points, while Rijeka is in 3rd with 52. 

Osijek v. Gorica (0:0)

Osijek and Gorica closed out the 27th round on March 13, 2022, at City Garden Stadium. 

Yet another match of the 27th round that went without goals, Osijek had only 51% possession to Gorica's 49%. Osijek also had only 3 shots on target to Gorica's 6!

Osijek is currently in 2nd place with 54 points, while Gorica is in 6th place with 33 points. 

You can see the HNL standings HERE. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 9, 2022 - History has been made at Poljud, as Hajduk season ticket holders and club members have sold out the stadium for the first time - and what better way than for the derby against Dinamo this weekend. 

Hajduk will play the biggest Croatian football derby against Dinamo at Poljud in the 27th round of the Croatian First League on Saturday at 18:00. 

Not only will Hajduk host Dinamo in front of a sold-out Poljud, but for the first time in history, tickets were bought exclusively by Hajduk season ticket holders and club members.

During the release of tickets, Hajduk indicated that until the day of the match, members would have priority for tickets, and there are currently more than 62,000 of them! Hajduk pointed out that the unsold tickets would go on sale on Saturday. However, that will no longer be necessary as members showed incredible enthusiasm and secured all available tickets.

"For the first time in the club's history, only season ticket holders and Hajduk club members filled the entire Poljud stadium for the Hajduk - Dinamo derby!" Hajduk announced on social media Tuesday night. About 1700 Dinamo fans are expected on Saturday (1470 in the southwest sector).

This will be the fourth consecutive game at Poljud where Hajduk fans bought all available tickets. Poljud was full in December against Osijek, and against Slaven Belupo and Rijeka in February, the maximum number of spectators filled the stands, considering the epidemiological measures that were in force at the time (and the closure of the North stand against Belupo).

Ahead of the 27th round, Dinamo is in first place in the standings with 53 points, and Hajduk is currently in fourth place with five points less. In the last round, Hajduk played 1:1 against Istra 1961 in Pula, while Dinamo defeated Šibenik 3:0 at home.

This is only the second time that Hajduk and Dinamo will compete in the current season. The first match was postponed at the request of GNK Dinamo due to their group stage appearance in the UEFA Europa League. A recent decision confirmed the new date for that match - April 20 at 19:00 in Split. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 7, 2022 - The 26th round of the Croatian First League was played from March 4 to 6, 2022. Osijek and Hajduk recorded draws in this round, while Dinamo and Rijeka booked 3:0 victories. Here is our HNL round 26 recap. 

Lokomotiva v. Osijek (0:0)

Lokomotiva and Osijek opened the 26th round on Friday, March 4, 2022, in Zagreb in front of 884 fans. 

Neither team was able to score, and the match ended 0:0. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 5th place with 33 points, while Osijek has dropped to 2nd place with 53. 

Dinamo v. Sibenik (3:0)

Dinamo and Sibenik met on Satuday, March 5, 2022, at Maksimir in front of 2,421 fans. 

Bockaj scored Dinamo's first goal for 1:0 in the 16th minute. Petkovic increased Dinamo's lead with a goal in the 58th minute for 2:0. Finally, Baturina secured Dinamo's victory with a goal for 3:0 in the 76th minute. 

Dinamo has moved back to first place with 53 points and a game in hand, while Sibenik is in 8th place with 26 points. 

Rijeka v. Slaven Belupo (3:0)

Rijeka and Belupo met on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Rujevica in front of 3,421 fans. 

While the first half went without goals, Vuckic scored for the Rijeka lead in the 55th minute for 1:0. Drmic increased Rijeka's lead to 2:0 in the 70th minute, before Čerin made it 3:0 9 minutes later, which was the final score. 

Rijeka is currently in 3rd place with 52 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 29. 

Gorica v. Hr. Dragovoljac (4:0)

Gorica and Dragovoljac met on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Velika Gorica. 

Though Kalik missed a penalty in the 10th minute for Gorica, Atiemwen scored the second-awarded penalty for Gorica in the 22nd minute for 1:0. Subaric received a red card for Dragovoljac in the 45th minute, forcing them to play with a man down for the remainder of the match. Muhammed scored for 2:0 Gorica in the 47th minute, followed by Da Cruz for 3:0 in the 52nd and Kalik for 4:0 in the 59th. 

Gorica is currently in 6th place with 32 points, while Dragovoljac is in last place with 10. 

Istra 1961 v. Hajduk (1:1)

Istra and Hajduk closed out the 26th round on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Pula. 

Nikola Kalinić scored his first goal for Hajduk since he's returned in the 30th minute for 0:1. Drena Beljo equalized for Istra in the 54th minute for 1:1. Hajduk scored one minute later though it was ultimately recalled thanks to VAR. The match ended 1:1. 

Istra is currently in 9th place with 23 points, while Hajduk is in 4th with 48 and a game in hand. 

You can see the full HNL standings HERE. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 6, 2022 - Dean Računica would be the fourth name on the Šibenik bench in the spring part of the 2021/2022 Croatian First League season. 

Hajduk legend Dean Računica should take over the Šibenik bench until the end of this season, according to unofficial but verified information this weekend, Gol.hr and Sportske Novosti.

The management of the Šibenik first league team has announced a press conference for Monday, at which the new coach should be presented.

They announced a press release today in which they will explain why they fired Marko Kartelo the night before playing Dinamo but also suspended two players, Stipe Bačelić-Grgić and Antonio Jakoliš.

Kartelo lasted only two rounds on the bench of the Šibenik club and is surprised by how he was fired above all.

Although he held a press conference on Friday morning announcing the 26th round match of the First HNL against Dinamo at Maksimir, a few hours later, he was greeted by the shocking news of his dismissal.

Thus, he was succeeded on the bench by assistant coach Ivica Matas, who also failed to wake Šibenik up as they lost 3:0 to Dinamo on Friday.

Dean Računica would be the fourth name on the Šibenik bench this spring.

Računica is a 52-year-old from Šibenik, a great player who played 175 appearances and 37 goals in the First HNL for Šibenik and Hajduk. The noble midfielder, who played two games for the Croatia national team and scored one goal, led Uskok from Klis, Junak from Sinj, and Primorac from Stobreč at the beginning of the last decade. Before that, he worked as an assistant coach at Hajduk Split.

In recent years, Računica has been an assistant to former Croatia coach Slaven Bilić, working with him at West Bromwich Albion and, until recently, in Beijing Guoan FC in China. In 2017, he also went to Australia to serve as assistant coach to the Melbourne Knights.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

February 28, 2022 - Finally, some good news, as full capacity at Croatian stadiums returns, especially delighting fans of Croatian football and the Croatian First League. 

Interior Minister and Chief of the Civil Protection Headquarters Davor Božinović announced six new decisions on Monday, including one that will especially delight all fans of Croatian football and the Croatian First League, reports Gol.hr.

As of Tuesday, March 1, the epidemiological measure that clubs could allow only 40 percent capacity at each of the stands at their stadiums will be abolished.

There is no longer any limitation on the number of spectators for outdoor competitions. However, for indoor competitions, 50 percent of the stands are allowed to be filled instead of 20 percent, as has been the case so far. This decision had been in force since January this year.

What hasn’t changed is that an EU Covid-certificate will have to be shown when entering the stadium, in digital or paper form.

The capacity restriction has negatively affected the attendance of the Croatian football clubs. With capacity restrictions, Hajduk sold out the championship matches against Slaven Belupo and Rijeka, Osijek welcomed Dinamo with the maximum possible capacity last weekend, and Dinamo played their Europa League match against Sevilla last week under the same conditions. 

The weekend behind us brought two big derbies between clubs from the top of Croatian football. Hajduk hosted Rijeka, and Osijek hosted Dinamo according to the current rules and restrictions of 40 percent. 

The first match that could be played in front of full stands will be the big derby between Hajduk - Dinamo, which will be played on Saturday, February 12, as part of the 27th round.

Given the great interest in Croatian First League matches, where four clubs are fighting for the title of national champion, there should be a significant increase in visitors for the upcoming games at stadiums across the country.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

February 28, 2022 - The 25th round of the Croatian First League was played from February 25 to 27, 2022. This round saw two of Croatia's biggest derbies - between Hajduk and Rijeka, and Osijek and Dinamo. Here's our HNL round 25 recap. 

Slaven Belupo v. Hr. Dragovoljac (1:0)

Slaven Belupo and Dragovoljac opened the 25th round in Koprivnica on February 25, 2022, in front of 753 fans. 

The only goal of the match came in the 64th minute from a Brkovic penalty. 

Belupo is currently in 6th place with 29 points, while Dragovoljac is in last place with 10. 

Lokomotiva v. Gorica (2:0)

Lokomotiva and Gorica met on Saturday, February 26, 2022, in Zagreb in front of 319 fans.

Kulenovic scored Lokomotiva's first goal for 1:0 in the 18th minute. Pivaric missed a penalty in the 60th minute, though Dabro increased Lokomotiva's lead to 2:0 in the 72nd minute, which was the final score. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 5th place with 32 points, while Gorica is in 7th place with 29. 

Hajduk v. Rijeka (1:3)

Hajduk and Rijeka met in the Adriatic Derby at Poljud on Saturday, February 26, 2022, in front of 11,453 fans. 

Drmic put Rijeka in the lead in the 17th minute, before Vuckic made it 0:2 for Rijeka in the 33rd. Livaja put Hajduk on the board in the 69th minute for 1:2, though Kresic secured Rijeka's 1:3 victory in the 86th minute.

Hajduk is currently in 4th place with 47 points and a game in hand, while Rijeka is in 3rd with 49. 

Sibenik v. Istra 1961 (2:1)

Sibenik and Istra met in Sibenik on Sunday, February 27, 2022, in front of 776 fans. 

Drena Beljo scored moments before the halftime whistle for 0:1 Istra. Marin equalized in the 53rd for 1:1, before Delic scored for 2:1 and the Sibenik win in the 63rd minute. 

Sibenik is currently in 8th place with 26 points, while Istra is in 9th place with 22. 

Osijek v. Dinamo (1:0)

Osijek and Dinamo closed out the 25th round with the highly anticipated match for first place on Sunday, February 27, 2022, in front of 6,676 fans. 

The only goal of the match came in the 77th minute thanks to Osijek's Mance. 

Osijek has now jumped to first place with 52 points, while Dinamo is in 2nd with 50 and a game in hand. 

You can see the HNL standings HERE. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

February 21, 2022 - The 24th round of the Croatian First League was held from February 18 to 20, 2022. This round saw a Livaja hattrick for the Hajduk win, a last-minute goal for Osijek over Istra, and a 0:0 draw a Maksimir to shake up the top of the standings. Here is our HNL round 24 recap. 

Gorica v. Slaven Belupo (0:3)

Gorica and Slaven Belupo opened the 24th round on Friday, February 18, 2022, in Velika Gorica in front of 285 fans. 

Caimacov scored an early first goal of the match for 0:1 Belupo in the 2nd minute. Zvonarek increased Belupo's lead to 0:2 in the 10th minute. A Jovicic red card forced Gorica to play with a man down from the 56th minute, after which Marina scored a penalty for 0:3, the final score. 

Gorica is currently in 6th place with 29 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 26. 

Hr Dragovoljac v. Hajduk (0:3)

Dragovoljac and Hajduk met on Saturday, February 19, 2022, in Zagreb in front of 1,650 fans. 

Hajduk was awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute, which Marko Livaja scored for 0:1. Livaja was solid on another Hajduk penalty in the 74th minute for 0:2, before a Biuk assist found Livaja for the final 0:3 in the 79th minute. 

Dragovoljac is currently in the last place with 10 points, while Hajduk is in 3rd with 47 and a game in hand. 

Istra 1961 v. Osijek (2:3)

Istra and Osijek met on Saturday, February 19, 2022, in Pula in front of 762 fans. 

A Caktas goal put Osijek ahead in the 27th minute for 0:1. Zaper made it 0:2 13 minutes later. Then, Beljo scored for 1:2 in the 57th minute before Galilea equalized in the 84th minute. Finally, Mance scored in the 6th minute of stoppage time for the 2:3 Osijek win. 

Istra is currently in 9th place with 22 points, while Osijek is in 2nd with 49. 

Rijeka v. Sibenik (4:2)

Rijeka and Sibenik met on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at Rujevica Stadium in front of 3,084 fans. 

Selahi scored for 1:0 Rijeka in the 16th minute. VAR called Sibenik's goal offside in the 23rd minute. Vuckic made it 2:0 for Rijeka in the 34th. Muric and Vuckic made it 4:0 by the 66th minute, before Sibenik scored two goals in the 70th and 84th for the final 4:2. 

Rijeka is currently in 4th place with 46 points, while Sibenik is in 8th with 23. 

Dinamo v. Lokomotiva (0:0)

Dinamo and Lokomotiva closed out the 24th round on Sunday at Maksimir in front of 1,886 fans. 

Neither team was able to score, and the match ended 0:0.

Dinamo is currently in first place with 50 points and a game in hand, while Lokomotiva is in 5th place with 29 points. 

You can see the HNL standings HERE. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

February 19, 2022 - There is no doubt that the World Cup in Qatar from November 21 to December 18 is the most anticipated sporting event in 2022, but did you know that September will be the busiest for Croatian athletes? A look at Croatian sports in September 2022. 

The craziest period of 2022 when it comes to sports will be the month of September, in which an incredible number of events await us, both at the club and national team level, reports Gol.hr. 

European Water Polo Championships in Split
The European Water Polo Championship will be played in Split this summer at the Spaladium Arena from August 27 to September 10.

Under the leadership of coach Ivica Tucak, the Barracudas will be chasing a medal, with the ubiquitous hope that after 12 years, they could go all the way and be crowned European champions.

EuroBasket in four countries
Another Croatia national team will compete at the continental basketball festival this September. Namely, EuroBasket starts on the first day of September and lasts until the 18th and will be played in four countries: the Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy, and Germany.

Croatia's basketball players will, perhaps for the last time at a major competition, be led by Bojan Bogdanović.

Vatreni, Croatian First League (HNL), Champions League, Europa League
Football is an extraordinary story in the September calendar this year. The new season of the First HNL will be in full swing, and in the first two weeks of September, two rounds of the Champions League group stage, the Europa League and the Conference League, will be played.

The Croatia national football team will be in action in the second half of September, awaiting the Nations League's fifth and sixth rounds. Croatia will welcome Denmark on September 22 and visit Austria three days later. 

Tennis will come to the fore between the club and national football activities. The Davis Cup group stage, which will bring together sixteen teams divided into four groups, the first two of which will qualify for the knockout phase, has been moved to September, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Thursday.

From now on, the two phases - group and knockout, will be separated. The first is scheduled for September 14-18, and the second (quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals) from November 23 to 27, the ITF said.

This will be a crazy and exciting 30 days for Croatian sports fans! 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

February 16, 2022 - NK Osijek managed to stir up the final hours of the HNL transfer window by bringing the high-in-demand Kristijan Lovrić from Gorica to City Garden. 

The First HNL transfer window has been concluded - and it ended with a bomb and the unexpected transfer of Kristijan Lovrić from Gorica to Osijek. 

The 26-year-old winger has played 21 games in the First HNL this season. Lovrić spent 1,803 minutes on the pitch, which was enough for him to score seven goals and five assists. He added three appearances and three goals in the Cup. His market value according to Transfermarkt is five million euros.

Gorica should earn around two million euros for Lovrić, and the player signed with Osijek for four and a half years.

"After three and a half years, 120 appearances, 54 goals, and 29 assists in the HNK Gorica jersey, Kristijan Lovrić left our club and became a player of NK Osijek," Gorica announced on its Facebook confirming the news. 

Lovrić arrived as a replacement for Petar Bočkaj, who moved to Dinamo Zagreb on Christmas Eve for 2.5 million euros. After the arrival of Mijo Caktaš this winter, Lovrić is the second big reinforcement for Osijek, who are now even more ready to fight with Dinamo, Hajduk, and Rijeka.

Along with Petar Bočkaj, Dinamo also brought Azerbaijani Mahir Emreli from the Warsaw Legia, and released left-back Marin Leovac to Osijek.

Along with Lovrić, Osijek brought Mijo Caktaš, who terminated his contract with Saudi club Damac. Kristian Fućak, Vinko Petković, Alen Grgić, Antonio Mance, and Diego Barri arrived with Caktaš.

Hajduk also had a successful transfer period. Midfielder Lukas Grgić, right back Dino Mikanović, stopper Ferro and forward Nikola Kalinić have joined the team. Among the significant departures is stopper Kristian Dimitrov to the Romanian CFR Cluj. Hajduk earned half a million euros by selling Marin Jakoliš to Angers, France.

Rijeka brought stopper Sava-Arangel Čestić from Cologne, Germany, free of charge. Colombian right-back Andres Solano from Atletico Madrid's B team also arrived. Rijeka was left without an important first-team player Ivan Tomečak who went to Paphos, Cyprus. 

Source: Gol.hr

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

February 14, 2022 - The 23rd round of the Croatian First League was held from February 11 to 13, 2022. This round saw Dinamo defeat Gorica in the final minute, while Hajduk's 111th birthday victory pushed them into 3rd place ahead of Rijeka. Here's our HNL round 23 recap. 

Šibenik v. Hr. Dragovoljac (0:5)

The 23rd round opened on Friday, February 11, 2022, between Sibenik and Dragovoljac in Sibenik and was perhaps the most shocking game of the round. 

The last-placed Dragovolac scored three goals in the first half thanks to Karrica (19'), Bristric (22'), and Majstorovic (45+3'). Galesic opened the second half with an early goal to make it 0:4 in the 49th minute before Frigan scored for 0:5 in the 75th. 

Sibenik is currently in 7th place with 23 points, while Dragovoljac is in 10th with 10.

Lokomotiva v. Istra 1961 (1:1)

Lokomotiva and Istra met on Saturday, February 12, 2022, in Zagreb.

While the first half went without goals, Lokomotiva'ss Salihu was booked for a double yellow at the end of the first half, forcing Lokomotiva to play with a man down for the remainder of the match. Drena Beljo put Istra in the lead in the 54th minute for 0:1, though Kulenovic equalized for 1:1 in the 80th minute.

Lokomotiva is currently in 6th place with 28 points, while Istra is in 9th with 22. 

Dinamo v. Gorica (2:1)

On Saturday, February 12, 2022, Dinamo and Gorica met at Maksimir stadium. 

While the first half went without goals, Ademi put Dinamo ahead in the 55th minute for 1:0. Kalik equalized less than 10 minutes later for 1:1. Finally, Orsic gave Dinamo the victory with a last-minute goal in the 89th for 2:1. 

Dinamo is currently in first place with 49 points and a game in hand, while Gorica is in 5th place with 29 points. 

Hajduk v. Slaven Belupo (3:1)

Hajduk and Belupo met on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at Poljud stadium. It was also Hajduk's 111th birthday. 

Nikola Kalinic made his re-debut for Hajduk on Sunday and played a part in the first goal, which Sahiti scored for 1:0 in the 13th minute. Grgic increased Hajduk's lead to 2:0 in the 26th. Zapata gave Belupo some hope in the 52nd minute with a goal for 2:1, but a double yellow for Bosec 10 minutes later had Belupo playing with a man down for the rest of the match. Livaja scored a penalty in the 71st for the final 3:1. 

Hajduk is currently in 3rd place with 44 points and a game in hand, while Belupo is in 8th with 23. 

Osijek v. Rijeka (1:0)

Osijek and Rijeka closed out the 23rd round with a derby on Sunday, February 13, 2022. 

The first half went without goals, and an own goal by Cestic decided the winner in the 85th minute. Rijeka's Abass was booked for his second yellow in the 3rd minute of stoppage time. 

Osijek is currently in 2nd place with 46 points, while Rijeka dropped to 4th with 43. 

You can see the full HNL standings HERE.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.