July 2, 2020 - The 32nd round of the Croatian First League was held from June 30 to July 1, 2020. This round saw Hajduk lose to Gorica, while Osijek defeated Rijeka. 

Slaven Belupo v. Istra 1961 (3:0)

Belupo and Istra opened the 32nd round on Tuesday, June 30, in Koprivnica, in front of 502 spectators. 

All three of Belupo's goals were scored in the first half - Zirdum (13'), Krstanovic (25'), and Jeffren (27') for the 3:0 victory. 

Belupo is currently in 7th place with 34 points, while Istra is in 9th with 23. 

Lokomotiva v. Varazdin (2:0)

Lokomotiva and Varazdin met on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Zagreb in front of 683 spectators. 

Tuci scored for Lokomotiva seconds before the half for 1:0. Jakic increased Lokomotiva's lead to 2:0 in the 84th minute for 2:0. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 2nd place with 57 points, while Varazdin is in 8th with 27. 

Gorica v. Hajduk (3:1)

Gorica and Hajduk met in Velika Gorica on Wednesday, June 30, 2020, in Velika Gorica in front of 1,700 spectators. 

Gorica's Hamad scored first in the 17th minute for 1:0 Gorica. Suk increased Gorica's lead to 2:0 in the 43rd for 2:0. Jakolis came back with one goal for Hajduk for 2:1 at the half. 

Ndiaye's goal in the 53rd minute gave Gorica the 3:1 win. 

Gorica is currently in 6th place with 46 points, while Hajduk has dropped to 4th place with 54.  

Inter Zapresic v. Dinamo Zagreb (0:1)

Inter and Dinamo met on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in Zapresic in front of 5,228 spectators. 

While the first half went without goals, Dinamo's Cuze scored in the 61st minute for 0:1, which was the final score of the game. 

Inter is currently in 10th place with 17 points, while Dinamo is in first with 76. 

Osijek v. Rijeka (1:0)

Osijek and Rijeka closed out the 32nd round at City Garden Stadium on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

Mance scored the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute for 1:0. Rijeka's Galovic received his second yellow of the match in the 90th minute. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 56 points, while Rijeka is in 5th with 52. 

You can see the full HNL table here.

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

June 22, 2020 - The 30th round of the Croatian First League was played from June 20 to 21, 2020. This round saw losses for Rijeka and Hajduk, while Dinamo mathematically secured their 31st title.

Inter Zapresic v. Osijek (0:1)

Inter and Osijek opened the 30th round on Saturday, June 20, 2020, in Zagreb. 

While the first half went without goals, Maric scored for Osijek in the 67th minute for 0:1 and the final score of the game. 

Inter is currently in the last place with 17 points, while Osijek is in 3rd with 52. 

Varazdin v. Istra 1961 (3:0)

Varazdin and Istra met at NK Varteks Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2020. 

Another game that saw no goals in the first half, Obregon opened the scoring for Varazdin with a goal in the 54th minute, while Drozdek (85') and Petkovic (95') made it 3:0. 

Varazdin is currently in 8th place with 24 points, while Istra is in 9th with 22. 

Gorica v. Dinamo (0:0)

Gorica and Dinamo met in Velika Gorica on Saturday, June 20, 2020. 

A rather uneventful game that went without goals, Gorica and Dinamo ended 0:0.

Gorica is currently in 6th place with 40 points, while Dinamo is in first with 72 and has mathematically clinched the Croatia First League title. 

Slaven Belupo v. Rijeka (1:0)

Belupo and Rijeka met in Koprivnica on Sunday, June 21, 2020. 

Mateus' goal in the 30th minute was enough for Belupo, who held their own for the victory against Rijeka. 

Belupo is currently in 7th place with 31 points, While Rijeka is in 4th with 52. 

Lokomotiva v. Hajduk (3:2)

Lokomotiva and Hajduk closed out the 30th round in Zagreb on Sunday, June 21, 2020. 

A Caktas goal in the 3rd minute of the match gave Hajduk an early lead. A Caktas penalty in the 36th minute made it 0:2. However, Kolinger scored for Lokomotiva right before the half, which ultimately changed the game for Hajduk. 

The game was 1:2 for Hajduk until the 66th minute, when Tuci equalized for 2:2. In the 7th minute of added time (97'), Kolinger gave Lokomotiva the lead, and ultimately the 3:2 win. 

Lokomotiva has now jumped to 2nd place with 53 points, while Hajduk has dropped to 5th place with 51. 

You can see the full HNL table here.

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

June 15, 2020 - The 28th round of the Croatian First League was played from June 11 to 13, 2020. This round saw Dinamo lose to Lokomotiva, draws for Rijeka and Osijek, and a win for Hajduk against Istra. 

Inter Zapresic v. Gorica (0:3)

Inter and Gorica opened the 28th round on Thursday, June 11, 2020, in Zagreb. 

While the first half went without goals, Lovric scored in the 53rd minute for the Gorica lead, and Mundrinski scored in the 78th and 84th for the final score of 0:3. 

Inter is currently in the last place with 17 points, while Gorica is in 6th with 39. 

Istra 1961 v. Hajduk (0:1)

Istra and Hajduk met in Pula on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Hajduk scored early thanks to a Caktas header in the 6th minute for 0:1, which was the final score of the game. 

Istra is currently in 8th place with 19 points, while Hajduk has moved back into 2nd place with 51. 

Varazdin v. Rijeka (0:0)

Varazdin and Rijeka met at NK Varteks Stadium on Friday, June 12, 2020. 

Neither team was able to score, and the game remained 0:0.

Varazdin is currently in 9th place with 18 points, while Rijeka has dropped to 3rd place with 51. 

Lokomotiva v. Dinamo Zagreb (1:0)

Lokomotiva and Dinamo met at Kranjceviceva Street Stadium on Friday, June 12, 2020. 

The game remained without goals until the 90th minute, after Nikola Moro received a red card and Lokomotiva a penalty, which Tolic scored for 1:0 and the victory. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 4th place with 49 points, while Dinamo is in first with 68. 

Slaven Belupo v. Osijek (0:0)

Belupo and Osijek met in Koprivnica to close out the 28th round on Saturday, June 13, 2020. 

It was yet another game in this round that went without goals and ended 0:0. 

Belupo is currently in 7th place with 28 points, while Osijek is in 5th with 46. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

June. 8, 2020 - The 27th round of the Croatian First League was played from June 5 to 7, 2020, nearly three months after the corona crisis put the Championship on hold. This round saw wins for Dinamo, Rijeka and Hajduk, who take the top three spots in the table. 

Hajduk v. Inter Zapresic (2:1)

Hajduk and Inter opened the 27th round at Poljud Stadium in Split for the first game of the HNL after 88 days on June 5, 2020. 

Inter's Mamut put them in the lead in the 37th minute for 0:1 just before the half, though a Hajduk penalty scored by Caktas and an Inter red card made it 1:1 in the 60th. Hajduk sealed the victory in the 7th minute of added time thanks to a header by Dimitrov for 2:1.

Hajduk is currently in 3rd place with 48 points, while Inter is in 9th with 17. 

Slaven Belupo v. Gorica (0:0)

Belupo and Gorica met on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at the City Stadium in Koprivnica. 

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

Slaven Belupo is currently in 7th place with 27 points, while Gorica is in 6th with 36. 

Varazdin v. Dinamo Zagreb (1:3)

Varazdin and Dinamo met on June 6, 2020, at the NK Varteks Stadium. 

A goal for Ademi in the 13th minute and a penalty for Petkovic in the 18th made the game 0:2 for Dinamo at the half. Obregon made it 1:2 in the 79th minute, though Marin's goal in the 4th minute of added time gave Dinamo the 1:3 win. 

Varazdin is currently in the last place with 10 points, while Dinamo is in first with 68. 

Istra 1961 v. Rijeka (1:3)

Istra and Rijeka met in Pula on Sunday, June 7, 2020. 

Rijeka's Loncar scored in the 5th minute for 0:1 at the half. Colak increased Rijeka's lead to 0:2 in the 70th, though Istra came back with one in the 88th thanks to Peric-Komsic for 1:2. Muric sealed the victory for Rijeka in the 3rd minute of added time for 1:3. 

Istra is currently in 8th place with 19 points, while Rijeka is in 2nd with 50.  

Lokomotiva v. Osijek (0:1)

Lokomotiva and Osijek closed out the 27th round on Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Zagreb. 

The only goal of the game came from Bockaj in the 22nd minute for 0:1 Osijek. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 4th place with 46 points, while Osijek is in 5th with 45. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

June 1, 2020 - After the semi-final games last weekend, Lokomotiva and Rijeka will meet in the Croatian Cup final on August 1, 2020. 

Croatian football finally returned last weekend, albeit looking a bit different in the corona era. 

Namely, HNS reports that Statehood Day brought the continuation of football competitions in Croatia, and Slaven Belupo and Lokomotiva kicked off in the first semi-final of the Croatian Cup on Saturday. The match was watched live by the president of the Croatian Football Federation Davor Šuker and the coach of the Croatia national team, Zlatko Dalić.

The Koprivnica club took the lead in the sixth minute of the game, when Goda shook the net with a great long-distance shot under Grbić's crossbar (1:0).

The turnaround was directed by Zagreb in the second half, in the 67th and 79th minute of the game, when Cokaj (1:1) and Tolić (2:1) beat Filipović, with assists by Sammir, who entered the game in the middle of the second half.

Uzuni set the final score of 3:1 for Lokomotiva in injury time. 

In the second match of the Cup semi-final on Sunday, Rijeka and Osijek met in Rujevica.

Less than half an hour before the end of the game, Osijek led with 0:2 with goals by Bočkaj (16th, 48th minutes), but Rijeka managed to achieve a turnaround after playing a man up in the second half and with the help of referee Pajač. Murić (66th), Čolak (73rd, penalty ) and Yateke (86th) were the goalscorers for Rijeka.

Rijeka will thus play in the Cup final for the seventh time. So far, it has lifted the winning trophy five times (2005, 2006, 2014, 2017, 2019). Its rival in the final, which will be played on August 1 in Šibenik, will be Lokomotiva. It will be Lokomotiva's second appearance in the final, after they lost to Hajduk in 2013.

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

March 10, 2020 - A closer look at how the coronavirus outbreak is effecting Croatian football.

Following the announced measures of the Croatian Civil Protection Staff from March 9, the relevant bodies of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) issued instructions for playing football matches in the following period.

The following instructions have been determined by the leadership of the Croatian Football Federation, headed by President Davor Šuker and Executive Director Marijan Kustić, HNS Executive Board, HNS Medical Commission with President prof. Dr Dragan Primorac, HNS Competition Commission led by President Ante Vučemilović-Šimunović, Commission of Football Referees with President Anto Kulušić, HT First League Competition Commissioner Josip Brezni and HNS Security Commissioner Miroslav Marković:

1. It is obligatory to adhere to all decisions, measures and recommendations which he has prescribed and which will be prescribed by the Civil Protection Staff of the Republic of Croatia or other competent state institutions.

2. Considering the HNS competition calendar, all competitions under the HNS's jurisdiction shall continue with or without spectators.

3. Match organizers are obliged to fully respect and implement the measures of the Civil Protection Staff of the Republic of Croatia.

4. We emphasize the obligation of the organizers to obtain the consent of the County Civil Protection Headquarters and the competent Institute of Public Health regarding the fulfillment of the prescribed conditions for the organization of the match before the matches.

The Croatian Football Federation will continue to closely monitor the situation with the epidemic of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and will, if necessary, determine new measures and issue new instructions, which will be notified to the football family and the public promptly.

In accordance with the recommendation of the Civil Protection Staff, the opinion of the County Institute of Public Health of Istria County and the decision of the Croatian Football Federation to continue the competition, Istra 1961 announced that its 27th and 28th round HNL games, scheduled on March 14 and 21, will be played without spectators.

On Saturday, March 14, Rijeka will visit Pula to play Istra, while a week later, Hajduk will visit Aldo Drosina Stadium.

"Both games will be played without the presence of spectators and there will be no ticket sales," the first-league team from Pula said.

The Istrian Institute of Public Health on Tuesday issued special recommendations to prevent the coronavirus epidemic, which, among other things, delays all outdoor and indoor gatherings, from children's events and birthdays, to sports, cultural, business and other events.

The Istra decision was only the first since Rijeka and Varazdin later came forward. Both have suspended ticket sales for their next home games.

Varazdin will host Dinamo on Sunday, March 15, and three days later, Rijeka will host Osijek in the Croatian Cup semi-finals. Both Varazdin and Rijeka have stopped selling tickets for those duels.

Lokomotiva will host Osijek at Kranjceviceva stadium on Friday from 6 pm.

'According to the published measures of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia, NK Lokomotiva, as the host of the match, will adhere to the maximum extent and implement all instructions, measures and recommendations regarding the organization of the match by the County Civil Protection Headquarters and the Institute of Public Health.

The maximum number of viewers will be 1,000.

NK Lokomotiva will provide checkpoints with disinfectants and urges viewers to refrain from the usual non-verbal communication that involves shaking hands and avoiding closer social contact.'

The club also urges fans with respiratory illness and/or fever (greater than 37.5 C) not to attend the match.

Tickets are purchased exclusively at the stadium ticket office on the day of the match, two hours before the start of the meeting (from 4:00 pm). 

Hajduk will play against Inter Zapresic at Poljud on Sunday at 3 pm as part of the 27th round. It is the first of two championship matches to be played in front of the empty stands because of the penalty that HNK Hajduk received for violations committed during the Hajduk - Dinamo match played on March 4.

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

January 22, 2020 - The International Institute for Football History and Statistics has released a table of the most successful clubs in 2019, with the Croatian champion Dinamo coming in 11th place.

According to the calculations of the International Institute of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the current European champion Liverpool is the best club in 2019, ahead of Spanish club Barcelona, Manchester City and Brazil's Flamenco, the only South American representative among the top ten.

Croatian clubs are led by national champion Dinamo, which is just behind the top ten, in a high 11th place with 234 points, ahead of Brazilian greats Palmeiras and Atletico Mineira. Dinamo has thus moved up an impressive ten places from the also successful 2018 ranking.

Recall, in 2019, Dinamo became the Croatian champion in April, securing the 30th championship title in the club's history and the 20th title for the club in independent Croatia.  

Furthermore, Dinamo also advanced to the Champions League group stage. Though they finished last in the group, they had an impressive 4:0 win against Atalanta and drew to Shakhtar Donetsk twice. Dinamo was not as lucky against Manchester City, one of the best clubs in the world, losing 2:0 away and 1:4 at Maksimir. 

The Croatian Cup champion Rijeka holds 108th place with 126 points, between teams Petro de Luanda and Al Nassar, followed by Osijek (200th), Hajduk (217th), Gorica (290th) and Lokomotiva (340th).

IFFHS, Club Ranking for 2019:

1. Liverpool 316
2. Barcelona 293
3. Manchester City 284
4. Flamengo 275
5. Celtic 269
6. Valencia 268
7. Ajax 249,5
8. Chelsea 249
9. PSG 243
10. Wolverhampton 236
11. Dinamo Zagreb 234
...
108. Rijeka 126
...
200. Osijek 94
...
217. Hajduk 90
...
290. Gorica 74
...
340. Lokomotiva 67

Source: HNS

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

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.  

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.

The 14th round of the Croatian First League was played from November 9 to 11, 2018, which saw Hajduk finally make the jump up to 6th place.