April 29, 2019 - The 31st round of the Croatian First League was held from April 26 to 28, 2019. While the Croatian champions Dinamo have nothing to play for but pride for the rest of the season, they did manage to lose to Osijek - and after a brilliant display by Hajduk in the 30th round, the Split club fell to Gorica. 

Without further ado, here is our round 31 HNL recap. 

Lokomotiva v. Istra 1961 (1:1)

Lokomotiva and Istra opened the 31st round on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Zagreb in front of 480 fans. 

Lokomotiva was the first to score thanks to a goal by Ivanušec in the 40th minute for 1:0 at the half. Fuentes equalized for Istra 10 minutes later for 1:1. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 6th place with 48 points, while Istra is in 9th place with 22. 

Gorica v. Hajduk (3:0)

Gorica and Hajduk met on Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Velika Gorica in front of 8,000 fans. 

Gorica scored their first goal already in the 11th minute thanks to Miya. Just before the half in the 45th minute, Zwolinski nailed Gorica’s second goal, which was a penalty, for 2:0. Miya scored again for Gorica in the 47th to confirm the blowout win. 

Gorica is currently in 5th place with 49 points, while Hajduk is in 4th with 50. 

Osijek v. Dinamo (2:1)

Osijek and Dinamo met on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at City Garden Stadium in front of 3,310 fans.

Dinamo was the first to score thanks to a goal by Šitum in the 20th minute. Talys equalized for Osijek in the 36th for 1:1. 

After Dinamo’s Perić was given a red card in the 66th minute, Osijek’s Marić was able to score for the win in the 76th minute for 2:1. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 53 points, while Dinamo is in first with 79. 

Inter Zaprešić v. Slaven Belupo (1:3)

Inter and Belupo met in Zaprešić on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in front of 263 fans. 

Goda scored for Belupo in the 6th minute for 0:1 at the half. Tsonev equalized for Inter in the 54th, though it was Canadjija to retake the lead for Belupo in the 58th. Delić secured Belupo’s win in the 60th for 1:3. 

Inter is currently in 8th place with 21 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 29. 

Rijeka v. Rudeš (3:1)

Rijeka and Rudeš closed out the 31st round at Rujevica stadium on Sunday, April 28, 2019, in front of 2,846 fans. 

Lončar scored for Rijeka in the 35th minute, which was followed by a goal by Puljić just two minutes later for 2:0. Lisakovich was able to score for Rudeš just before the half for 2:1. 

Čolak scored for Rijeka in the 69th minute for 3:1. 

Rijeka is currently in second place with 59 points, while Rudeš remains in last with 10. 

You can see the full HNL table there. 

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

April 25, 2019 - After defending the Croatian championship, Dinamo will try to do the same in the Croatian Cup against Rijeka next month.

April 21, 2019 - The 30th round of the Croatian First League was held on April 19 and 20 because of the Easter weekend. It was a rather exciting round that saw Dinamo clinch the Croatian championship title for the 20th time, and Hajduk pull a massive upset and huge win against Rijeka at Poljud. 

Istra 1961 v. Osijek (1:0)

Istra and Osijek opened the 30th round in Pula on Friday, April 19, 2019, in front of 763 fans. 

While the first half went without goals, it was Istra’s Mierez to score with two minutes to go, shocking Osijek for the 1:0 victory. 

Istria is currently in 9th place with 21 points, while Osijek is in 3rd with 50. 

Slaven Belupo v. Dinamo (0:1)

Belupo and Dinamo met on Friday, April 19, 2019, in front of 1,882 fans in Koprivnica. 

It was another game without goals in the first half, though Dinamo’s Gojak managed to score three minutes into the second half for 0:1, which was the final score of the game. With this win, Dinamo also claimed the Croatian championship title for the 20th time. 

Slaven Belupo is in 8th place with 26 points, while Dinamo is in first with 79. 

Rudeš v. Lokomotiva (1:2)

Rudeš and Lokomotiva met on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at Kranjčevićeva street stadium in Zagreb in front of 100 fans. 

Karačić scored first for Lokomotiva for 0:1, though Štrkalj equalized with a penalty in the 32nd minute for 1:1. Rakić retook the lead for Lokomotiva in the 80th minute for 1:2, which was the final score of the game.

Rudeš remains in the last place with 10 points, while Lokomotiva is in 5th with 47. 

Inter Zaprešić v. Gorica (2:2)

Inter and Gorica met in Zaprešić on Saturday, April 20, 2019, in front of 1,224 fans. 

Inter scored first thanks to Serderov in the 13th minute, while Lovrić scored a penalty for Gorica 10 minutes later to equalize. Gorica was given another penalty which Zwolinski nailed in the 58th for 1:2, though Šimunec equalized for Inter in the 80th for 2:2. 

Inter is currently in 7th place with 28 points, while Gorica is in 6th with 46. 

Hajduk v. Rijeka (4:0)

Hajduk and Rijeka met at Poljud to close out the 30th round on April 20, 2019, in front of 14,752 fans. 

Hajduk’s Jurić scored already in the 2nd minute of the famous ‘Adriatic Derby’, forcing the crowd into a frenzy. Hamza Barry scored for 2:0, and it was 3:0 at the half thanks to a goal in the 45th minute by Caktaš. 

But Hajduk wasn’t done yet, and Caktaš scored again in the 50th for 4:0, completely stunning Rijeka and, quite honestly, all Hajduk fans. 

Hajduk is currently in 4th place with 50 points, while Rijeka is in second with 56. 

You can see the full table here. 

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

Dinamo Zagreb has been crowned the Croatian champion for the 2018/19 season. 

April 15, 2019 - The 29th round of the Croatian First League was held from April 12 to 14, 2019. The fight for the ‘Top 4’ on the table is getting even more exciting, as Hajduk jumped over Lokomotiva to fourth place thanks to a massive win on Sunday. 

Check out our round 29 recap below. 

Osijek v. Rudeš (2:0)

Osijek and Rudeš opened the 29th round at City Garden Stadium on Friday, April 12, 2019, in front of 791 fans. 

Osijek scored their first goal of the game early thanks to Kleinheisler in the 11th minute. Marić was able to up Osijek’s lead in the 42nd minute for 2:0, which was the final result of the game. Marić did have the chance to make it 3:0, though he missed a penalty in the 82nd. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 50 points, while Rudeš remains in last with 10. 

Istra 1961 v. Dinamo (0:4)

Istria and Dinamo met in Pula on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

Ademi scored Dinamo’s first goal in the 20th minute, which was followed by Oršić’s goal for 0:2 in the 44th minute. Olmo increased Dinamo’s lead in the 65th for 0:3, which was followed by another goal by the Spaniard in the 73rd for 0:4. 

Istra is in 9th place with 18 points, while Dinamo remains in first place with 76 points. 

Rijeka v. Inter Zaprešić (7:0)

Rijeka and Inter met at Rujevica on Saturday, April 13, 2019. 

Halilović opened Rijeka’s scoring fest with a goal in the 27th minute. Puljić increased Rijeka’s lead in the 41st for 2:0, and scored a penalty 3 minutes later for 3:0. 

Acosty scored Rijeka’s fourth goal at the start of the second half, followed by a Pavičić goal in the 58th for 5:0. Puljić scored his hat trick in the 88th for 6:0, and secured Rijeka’s blowout win with his fourth goal of the game in the 91st. 

Rijeka is currently in 2nd place with 56 points, while Inter is in 7th with 27.

Gorica v. Slaven Belupo (4:3)

Gorica and Belupo met in Velika Gorica on Sunday, April 14, 2019. 

Belupo was the first to score with a goal by Krstanović in the 9th minute, though Gorica equalized in the 27th minute thanks to Ndiaye. Gorica took the lead in the 34th minute after Lovrić scored, and increased their lead to 3:1 thanks to Dvorneković. 

Mateus brought Belupo new life after scoring in the 62nd minute for 2:3, and Krstanović equalized in the 86th for 3:3. However, Zwolinski scored a late-game winner for Gorica in the 90th minute (4:3). 

Gorica is currently in 5th place with 45 points, while Belupo is in 8th with 26. 

Lokomotiva v. Hajduk (0:1)

Lokomotiva and Hajduk met on Sunday, April 14, 2019, in Zagreb to close out the 29th round. 

The game was the battle for 4th place, and Hajduk prevailed. Though the first half went without goals, Hajduk’s Jairo scored in the 80th minute for 0:1 and the win. 

Lokomotiva has dropped to 6th place with 44 points, while Hajduk has jumped to 4th with 47 points. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

The Institute for Sports Research (CIES) published an interesting analysis of attendance at football stadiums around the world, which includes an impressive figure by Hajduk Split. 

April 9, 2019 - The 27th and 28th rounds of the Croatian First League was held from April 2 to 8, 2019, for one very busy week of Croatian football.

April 1, 2019 - The Croatian First League returned for the 26th round over the weekend after the international break. It was a rather exciting weekend for Hajduk who moved into 4th place, which currently secures them a Europa League spot. However, things are not as optimistic for Osijek, after coach Zoran Zekić turned in his mandate. 

March 18, 2019 - The 25th round of the Croatian First League was held from March 15 to 17, 2019, and saw Hajduk inch even closer to the top three, Rijeka topple Osijek, and Dinamo claim another win. 

Senegalese footballer Cherif Ndiaye started his career in Senegal, namely at club Grand Yoff which plays in the third league. He left Senegal to chase his football dream in Europe to play one game for Belgian club Waasland-Beveren. After a short break, he made his way to Croatia, to first-league club HNK Gorica, reports Večernji List on March 13, 2019. 

“In Belgium it was difficult, and in my first season there were three strikers - I was the fourth. I played in the second team, the first one was hard to break into. It was the last day of the transfer period I was nowhere. I went to Paris with my mom. We slept in the same room, in the same bed. It was a tough time. When you live this way, you have to be pretty strong in your head. Now, when I'm playing, my mother is in my head,” says Cherif before recalling his football beginnings.

“I started playing in Senegal at Grand Yoff in the third league. I played there for several months and then came to Europe.”

Although he has been in Europe for many years, home is still home. Ndiaye has three brothers and a sister, and his wife is in Senegal. They have been married for three months.

“Whenever I have vacations, holidays, I go to Senegal. I get together with my family and friends. They all come over and stay until late in the night. After the match against Dinamo I am going to Paris, my wife will meet me there and we will return together. Here, when I'm free, I do not watch TV, I do nothing but talk to my wife,” he added.

The 'new Atiemwen' has scored four goals in Gorica’s last two games - though he’s impressed ever since he joined the club's first-team squad in January this year.

“The first time my agent told me I was going to Gorica I said, "Gorica, why Gorica? But, if there is nothing better, I'm going." When I came and saw the country, the city, I realized it was beautiful. And the league is pretty strong,” says Ndiaye.

“It was difficult, but I came to the first training session and immediately saw that I have a chance. I can prove myself here. I do not need to go out, I just need my apartment and my wife, and I'm all here,” says the 23-year-old. 

Though he’s still adapting to the language and Croatian cuisine...

“The language is very difficult. Every time I listen to people speak, it sounds difficult. But I know a little. The people are so great. When I train, sometimes my neighbors call me or come to my apartment to bring pancakes, drinks... Sometimes I go with my teammates to Zagreb for the weekend,” adds Ndiaye, who still can’t quite get into Croatian food.

“I don’t like it, I love African food.”

Although he may not like Croatian food, he does like Croatian footballers. His favorite is Mario Mandžukić. 

“He's a good player, strong. If you go at him as a defender, he wants to kill you. It's great. When I was younger, my favorite was Benzema. I play like him. Every time he gets the ball, he shows skill and enjoys it. And there is, of course, Drogba. He is my favorite African player.”

Just like his favorite attackers, Ndiaye is also known for his unique choreography when celebrating a goal.

“My name is Cherif (like ‘sheriff’). I saw movies with sheriffs, how they handled guns and thought I could do it too. Everyone likes it,” says the attacker, who enjoys the club, his teammates, and the league.

“I did not know much about Croatian football when I came here. Wherever you go it is different. The league here is quite strong. You run a lot, defend a lot, attack a lot. It's not easy. I know that I can achieve a lot of goals if I have confidence. I have a team behind me, if I can assist, I will assist, and if I can score, I will score. That's my philosophy.”

The next game for Gorica is against Dinamo on Sunday at 3 pm.

“To me it doesn’t matter who we play, Dinamo or Rudeš. I have no pressure. I watched them play. They are good and I respect them. Olmo is great; their attack is super. Petković, he is strong.”

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