July 6, 2020 - The 33rd round of the Croatian First League was held from July 4 to 5, 2020. This round featured two big derbies, between Hajduk and Osijek, and Rijeka and Dinamo. 

Istra 1961 v. Gorica (2:2)

Istra and Gorica opened the 33rd round in Pula on Saturday, July 4, 2020. 

Istra led right before the half with a goal by Grzan for 1:0. Hamad and Mudrinski put Gorica in the lead with goals in the 49' and 51' minutes for 1:2. Delic equalized for Istra in the 81st minute for a final score of 2:2. 

Istra is currently in 9th place with 24 points, while Gorica is in 6th with 47. 

Varazdin v. Slaven Belupo (1:0)

Varazdin and Belupo met on Saturday, July 4, 2020, in Koprivnica.

Drozdek scored the only goal of the game, which was a penalty in the 79th minute for 1:0 Varazdin. 

Varazdin is currently in 8th place with 30 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 34. 

Lokomotiva v. Inter Zapresic (3:1)

Lokomotiva and Inter met on Saturday, July 4, in Zagreb. 

Markovic put Lokomotiva in the lead with a goal in the 30th minute for 1:0 at the half. Mamut equalized for Inter in the 52nd minute. Goals by Tolic and Jakic in the final minutes of the gale ultimately gave Lokomotiva the 3:1 win. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 2nd place with 60 points, while Inter is in the last place with 17. 

Hajduk v. Osijek (0:1)

Hajduk and Osijek met on Sunday, July 5, 2020, at Poljud Stadium in Split. 

The only goal of the game came in the 15th minute, thanks to Bockaj for 0:1 Osijek. 

Hajduk is currently in 5th place with 54 points, while Osijek is in 3rd with 59.  

Rijeka v. Dinamo (2:0)

Rijeka and Dinamo closed out the 33rd round on Sunday, July 5, 2020, at Rujevica Stadium. 

An own goal by Gvardiol made it 1:0 for Rijeka in the 2nd minute. Colak increased Rijeka's lead to 2:0 in the 52nd minute, which was the final score of the game. 

Rijeka is currently in 4th place with 55 points, while Dinamo is in first with 76. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

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 28, 2020 -  The 31st round of the Croatian First League was held from June 25 to 27, 2020. This round saw Hajduk top Slaven Belupo for a move back to 2nd place, while Gorica was better than Rijeka, and Dinamo and Osijek drew. 

Istra 1961 v. Lokomotiva (1:1)

Istra and Lokomotiva opened the 31st round on Thursday, June 25, 2020, in Pula in front of 665 spectators. 

Lokomotiva's Kastrati was the first to score with a goal in the 8th minute for 0:1. Guzina equalized for Istra just six minutes later for 1:1. 

The second half went without goals, though Karacic was booked for a red card in the 69th minute. Lokomotiva ended the game with 10 players, and a final score of 1:1.

Istra is currently in 9th place with 23 points, while Lokomotiva is in 3rd with 54. 

Varazdin v. Inter Zapresic (1:0)

Varazdin and Inter met on Thursday, June 25, 2020, in Varazdin in front of 2,194 spectators. 

Obregon's goal in the 33rd minute was enough to give Varazdin the 1:0 win.

Varazdin is currently in 8th place with 27 points, while Inter is in the last place with 17. 

Rijeka v. Gorica (1:2)

Rijeka and Gorica met on Friday, June 26, 2020, at Rujevica Stadium in front of 2,071 spectators. 

A Gorica penalty saw Lovric score for 0:1 in the 12th minute. Ndiaye increased Gorica's lead in the 79th minute for 0:2, though Rijeka was able to get one in the 84th minute thanks to Pires. 

Rijeka is currently in  5th place with 52 points, while Gorica is in 6th with 43. 

Hajduk v. Slaven Belupo (2:1)

Hajduk and Belupo met at Poljud Stadium on Friday, June 26, 2020, in front of 4,253 spectators. 

A Caktas penalty put Hajduk in the lead for 1:0 in the 10th minute. Medjimorec equalized in the 25th minute for 1:1 at the half. 

A 60th-minute goal for Eduok put Hajduk pack in the lead for 2:1, which was the final score of the match. 

Dinamo v. Osijek (0:0)

Dinamo and Osijek closed out the 31st round on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at Maksimir Stadium.

The match went without goals and ended 0:0.

Dinamo sits in first place with 73 points, while Osijek is in 4th with 53.

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

June 24, 2020 - A big change as the club fights for a spot in the Champions League playoffs, NK Osijek has relieved Ivan Mestrovic of his duties as club president.

Gol.hr reports that one of the best Croatian football clubs, NK Osijek, confirmed on Tuesday what many have speculated in the last few days. Ivan Mestrovic is no longer the president of the club.

"Football Club Osijek continues on the planned path with the same team. However, in slightly changed roles. President Ivan Mestrovic, at his own request and with the understanding of the President of the Supervisory Board and majority owner Lorinac Meszaros, will not continue to operate in the Club for the next four years as president of NK Osijek. However, as the president of the Association of the Football School of our first league, he will exclusively dedicate himself to the completion of the construction of a new football stadium and camp on Pampas," reads the statement from City Garden, which went on to announce Mestrovic's successor.

"The new club president will be the current vice president Ferenc Sakalj, a longtime friend and associate of both Meszaros and Mestrovic. The rest of the club's management remains unchanged and maximally focused on the best possible sports result in the uncertain fight for the top of the HNL championship.

Therefore, in the end, it can be concluded that the co-owners of the Club laughed at the media speculations about conflict, and was determined to continue to jointly fulfill everything that is set in the club's projects and ambitions," reads the announcement of NK Osijek.

Osijek is currently the third-placed team in the First HNL with only one point less than the second-placed Lokomotiva, and the holy second place that leads to the Champions League next season.

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

June 23, 2020 - A press conference was held at noon in Osijek, where the Headquarters revealed the new details about the coronavirus outbreak at a Djakovo monastery. 

Index.hr reports that the Osijek-Baranja County Headquarters has been reporting new cases for several days now, and today it became known that as many as 10 nuns were infected at a Dakovo monastery.

There are 23 new patients, and 12 new cases since last night, with potentially two hotspots.

"Six patients have been hospitalized. They are not life-threatening. We are ready and available," the doctor said.

"So far, we have registered a total of 156 positive patients since the beginning of the epidemic. You don't have to worry, everything that happened is under the strict supervision of the Public Health Institute. All contacts are under our measures. It is important that we adhere to all measures," said the Osijek epidemiologist Kozul.

"We have a certain breakthrough, but it is crucial that we have people who will do everything; there is no panic, and we detected everything in time. We closed our institutions for the elderly, KBC and hospital in Našice. The situation is epidemiologically much better than a few months ago. The old and infirm must be cared for more thoroughly than the younger population. But the message is that there is no panic and that the matter is under control. There is no reason for large restrictive measures, but it is very important that we must act responsibly. Keep a social distance, and those who have crossed the border need to report it and go into self-isolation. Certain infected people were across the border in BiH, Kosovo and Serbia," Anusic revealed. 

"We assume that the source of the infection is the nuns from Kosovo. The sisters returned from Kosovo 2-3 days ago," Kozul said, adding that it was good that everything was controlled in one facility. "All the nuns will be processed. Today we are waiting for new results. We will also process their contacts," he announced.

More soon...

To read more news 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 18, 2020 - The 29th round of the Croatian First League was played mid-week, from June 16 to 17, 2020. This round saw a shocking Hajduk loss to Varazdin, the second-to-last placed team in the standings. 

Istra 1960 v. Inter Zapresic (2:0)

Istra and Inter opened the 29th round in Pula on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. 

Istra's Bosancic scored the first goal of the game 6 minutes in for 1:0. A Grzan penalty in the 34th minute gave Istra the 2:0 lead, and the final score of the game. 

Istra is currently in 8th place with 22 points, while Inter is in the last place with 17. 

Hajduk v. Varazdin (2:3)

Hajduk and Varazdin met on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at Poljud Stadium in Split. 

Hajduk was down 0:3 at the half thanks to goals by Drozdek (19', 40') and Mamic (24'). Hajduk's Vuskovic came back for 1:3 in the 49th minute, and Caktas made it 2:3 in the 74th, which was the final score of the game.

Hajduk has now dropped to 3rd place with 51 points, and Varazdin is in 9th place with 21. 

Rijeka v. Lokomotiva (2:2)

Rijeka and Lokomotiva met at Rujevica Stadium on June 16, 2020. 

Lokomotiva took the lead thanks to a Kastrati goal in the 36th minute for 0:1. Yakete equalized in the 66th minute for 1:1, and Andrijasevic gave Rijeka the lead for 2:1. Karacic scored a penalty for Lokomotiva in the 84th for 2:2 and the final score of the game. 

Rijeka is currently in 2nd place with 52 points, while Lokomotiva is in 4th place with 50. 

Dinamo Zagreb v. Slaven Belupo (3:2) 

Dinamo and Belupo met on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Maksimir Stadium. 

Dinamo was up by two goals in the 37th minute thanks to Kadzior and Ivanusec, though an own goal by Theophile-Catherine made it 2:1 at the half. Mateus scored the equalizer for  Belupo in the 49th minute, and a late goal by Petkovic in the 90th minute gave Dinamo the 3:2 victory. 

Dinamo is currently in first place with 71 points, while Belupo is in 7th with 28. 

Osijek v. Gorica (2:1)

Osijek and Gorica closed out the 29th round on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. 

Maric put Osijek in the lead in the 35th minute for 1:0 at the half. Zaper increased Osijek's lead to 2:0 in the 57th minute, though a late goal by Lovric in the second minute of injury time made it 2:1.

Osijek is currently in 5th place with 49 points, while Gorica is in 6th with 39. 

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.