ZAGREB, September 20, 2019 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković laid the foundation stone for a new hospital in Rijeka's Sušak district on Thursday. The hospital will house a clinic for paediatrics and a clinic for gynaecology and obstetrics, along with corresponding laboratories serving the city's Clinical Hospital Centre (KBC).

"I am glad that we as the government have shown determination and boldness to continue the implementation of this major project," Plenković said at the ceremony.

The cost of construction is about 875 million kuna (118 million euro), and this is a major investment in the Croatian healthcare sector, the PM said. Once completed, this project will raise both the standard of healthcare and standard of living in this part of the country, he added.

The hospital will have eight levels, it will be built by the Kamgrad and GP Krk companies, and the deadline for its completion is March 2022.

Health Minister Milan Kujundžić said that this was a great event for the future of this part of Croatia and for the healthcare sector as a whole.

"Croatia needs four large hospital centres - in Zagreb, Rijeka, Split and Osijek - as a guarantee of a high level of hospital medicine in the country," Kujundžić said.

More Rijeka news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

September 16, 2019 - After an international break, the 8th round of the Croatian First League was held from September 13 to 15, 2019. The highlight of this round was the Adriatic Derby between Rijeka and Hajduk. 

Dinamo v. Istria 1961 (1:0)

Dinamo and Istria met on Friday, September 13, 2019, to open the 8th round at Maksimir stadium in front of 2,700 spectators. 

The first half went without goals, though Gavranovic gave Dinamo the lead, and ultimately the win, after scoring in the 53rd minute for 1:0. 

Dinamo is currently in 2nd place with 16 points,  while Istria is in 7th with 8. 

Inter Zapresic v. Slaven Belupo (3:1)

Inter and Belupo met on Saturday, September 14, 2019, in Zapresic. 

All of the action in the game came in the second half after Serderov scored for the Inter lead in the 47th minute. Nowak equalized for Belupo just two minutes later for 1:1. 

Inter was unable to score again until the last minutes of the game, when Mlinar scored in the 87th for 2:1, and Mamut in the 3rd minute of added time for the final score of 3:1. 

Inter is currently in 9th place with 6 points, while Belupo is in 8th with 7. 

Gorica v. Lokomotiva (0:0)

Gorica and Lokomitiva met on Saturday, September 14,  2019, in Velika Gorica. 

Since neither team was able to score, the game ended 0:0. Brazilian Sammir, former Dinamo player and once a member of the Croatia national team, made his debut back on Croatian soil, this time for Lokomotiva, entering the game for Tolic in the 66th minute. 

Gorica is currently in 5th place with 12 points, while Lokomotiva is in 6th with 11. 

Osijek v. Varazdin (2:2)

Osijek and Varazdin met at City Garden Stadium on Sunday, September 15, 2019. 

Osijek was already up by two goals at the half thanks to Maric (’26) and Silva (’42). What seemed like a sure victory for Osijek was crushed after Varazdin managed two goals to equalize in the final minutes of the game - Djurasek scored in the 89th for 2:1, and Lisakovich in the second minute of added time for 2:2. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 13 points, while Varazdin is in the last place with 4. 

Rijeka v. Hajduk (1:1)

The Adriatic Derby between Rijeka and Hajduk closed out the 8th round on Sunday, September 15, 2019, at a nearly sold out Rujevica stadium.

Rijeka was the first to score in the 31st minute for 1:0 at the half, though Hajduk’s young blood Teklic scored the equalizer in the 78th minute for 1:1, which was the final score of the game. This derby was also unique as it featured the return of Filip Bradaric and Franko Andrijasevic. Recall, both players were brought up in the Hajduk academy and played for Hajduk's first team, before playing together at Rijeka when they won the 2016/2017 season. 

Hajduk remains in first place with 16 points, while Rijeka is in 4th place with 12 points. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

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

September 15, 2019 - A new community and emergency app made in Croatia brings emergency assistance from local community heroes - meet Heroes Nearby. 

I like simple things which offer simple solutions to everyday problems. Especially things which provide assistance to the needy and strengthen the sense of community. 

A new app made in Croatia was launched a few months ago, which I have only recently heard about, and it has the potential to help a lots of people in need at the touch of a button. Heroes Nearby is a simple connection between those in need and those in the area who are in a position to help. Rather than reinvent the wheel, here is how the app founders explain it:

Children and Parents

Do you feel worried when your child goes to school or training and back alone? Are you concerned about bullying? Are you afraid no one will be there to help your child out while you are not around?

By installing Heroes Nearby emergency app on your children’s smartphone you can improve their safety and have peace of mind. With this app your child can send a quick and discreet signal straight to your phone regarding a potential or real danger they may face.  SOS calls come with a location tracker, and can be simultaneously directed to an unlimited number of people: relatives, friends and neighbours, as well as to the appropriate authorities. You can also count on the help of Heroes – selfless people in your community that you may not know personally, but who are ready and willing to help.

Chronic Patients

Do you have heart problem, suffer from asthma, epilepsy or another chronic condition? Have you already experienced a severe allergic reaction that threatened your life? Are you concerned about being alone or with people who don’t know how to help during an episode?
In situations where every second matters, with the Heroes Nearby emergency app you are one click away from sending an SOS call which clearly describes the type of danger you are in and how you can be helped. Not only will you inform your family and the emergency medical services at the same time, this call can also go to the members of the Heroes Nearby Community that have the necessary medical skills and are located in your vicinity.

The Elderly, Disabled and Their Caretakers

Had a fall and unable to get up? Flooded home due to a burst pipe? Power blackout or other household emergency? For elderly people, those with disabilities, or anyone who lives alone, an everyday household emergency, even when not particularly dangerous, can be a traumatic experience.

Will the person in question remember to call someone at that moment? Will they be able to explain where they are and what happened to them?

With Heroes Nearby emergency app help is only a click away.  The person in distress will get an immediate response; who received the call and whether help is on its way.

Anyone Who Wants to Feel Safer

The world can be a dangerous place. Unforeseen situations, as well as little or big emergencies are a part of life and difficult to avoid.

Whether or not you have fears about physical assault, criminal activity or potential accidents, Heroes Nearby is an effective, fast and reliable tool that can improve your personal security.  The Heroes Nearby app features, combined with the Heroes Nearby Community at your disposal, significantly increases your chances of a favourable outcome in stressful and emergency situations wherever you are.

Do you live in an area where the crime rates are high? Is there the possibility of a break-in or assault at your home?

Become Someone's Hero!

Download the Heroes Nearby Emergency App and join the Heroes Nearby Community.

An elderly neighbor falls in the garden and can’t get up. A young woman is under attack in a dark city street. Urgent medical help is needed at the scene of a car crash. A couple of hikers get stuck on a mountain.

These, and similar situations, require people with an open heart; ready to help another human being in distress – a True Hero!

Our Heroes are people from all backgrounds and walks of life bound by selflessness, warm-heartedness and good character.

Be a hero and make your city a better, safer place to live. A place where people help and care for each other. Our everyday Heroes and stories of their heroics will be published on our blog and serve as an inspiration for others to step up.

As a Hero you can choose what type of calls you want to receive. Your risk level and type of emergency, or situation, that you are willing to respond to is up to you.

Of course, even the Hero can sometimes get into trouble and need the app to call for help. It is good to do good. Sign Up Today!

The Heroes Nearby app can be used in these situations to summon help, interrupt, and serve as a witness to criminal activity.

Learn more on the official Heroes Nearby website. 

September 15, 2019 -'The Routes of the Frankopans' is a cultural and tourist route that includes 17 castles, fortified towns and palaces, and three sacred complexes.

HRTurizam writes that the Frankopan princes of Krk left a deep mark on Kvarner, and because of their exceptional international influence, many consider them the most significant family in Croatian history - and true diplomats.

The history of the Frankopan princes of Krk lasted more than five and a half centuries: the members of this great family were the bearers of political, social, economic and cultural development in their territories, primarily in the present-day Croatian region of Kvarner.

The noble family, whose origin is linked to the island of Krk, extended their influence to the Kvarner region, part of Lika and part of the interior of Croatia. Thus, because of the historical heritage and the importance of the Frankopan family for the whole of Kvarner, and because many castles and palaces were left behind, a project for the development and revitalization of the cultural and tourist route 'The Routes of the Frankopans' has been launched 

The cultural and tourist route includes 17 castles, fortified towns and palaces, and three sacred complexes. The route is divided into four territorial units that emphasize the diversity of the landscape of the Kvarner region, namely the island of Krk, Gorski Kotar, Rijeka with its surroundings and Vinodol.

The project aims to develop a cultural and tourism product whose content will attract more visitors to the locations of the castles, which were not at the forefront of the tourist offer of the Kvarner region, and thus revive the less developed parts of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The project protects the Frankopan family's cultural heritage in the Kvarner region and creates new socio-economic value through its tourist valorization.

The project is developed by Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and its partners are the cities of Rijeka, Kraljevica, Bakar and Čabar, the municipalities of Čavle, Lokve and Vinodol and the Diocese of Krk, the Rijeka Museum of Natural History, the City of Krk Cultural Center, the Rijeka Tourist Board and the Kvarner Tourist Board. The total value of the project is HRK 64,116,001.04, while the EU grant amounts to HRK 47,306,235.33.

The first phase of the project took place between 2005 and 2008 when an investment was made in ten Frankopan castles in the Vinodol Valley. The second phase of the project lasted from 2013 to 2016, within the framework of the EU project HERA from the IPA program of the Adriatic Cross-border Cooperation, when the reconstruction project was extended to Rijeka, Krk and Gorski Kotar, or a total of twenty objects, with the intention of creating cultural-tourist routes that will permanently integrate objects into the cultural life of the wider community. The third phase began in 2015 when the project was submitted to the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds competition. A total of HRK 47.3 million in grants from EU Structural Funds has been approved for the renovation of facilities, their arrangement, promotion and creation of new tourist products that will revive the island of Krk, the Vinodol region and Gorski Kotar throughout the year. The total value of the project is HRK 61 million. 

The project will be completed at the end of 2019 and the 'The Routes of the Frankopans' will give new added value to the Rijeka - European Capital of Culture 2020 project.

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

ZAGREB, September 13, 2019 - After a historical flag of the Kingdom of Italy was displayed in the northern Croatian Adriatic city of Rijeka and a monument to Italian protofascist Gabriele D'Annunzio was unveiled in Trieste to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the occupation of Rijeka by his followers, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Zagreb on Thursday that Croatia would not tolerate such provocations and the government would not allow violations of the country's legal order and dignity.

"We have presented a protest note and Minister (of Foreign and European Affairs) Gordan Grlić Radman was quite clear in his press interview. We condemned the decision by the local authorities, regardless of the fact that the Italian government has distanced itself from it, as well as a series of provocations that happened in Rijeka today. We don't tolerate provocations ... and we don't allow anyone to violate our country's legal order and undermine its dignity," Plenković told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony marking 29 years since the establishment of the youth organisation of his HDZ party.

Reporters recalled recent provocations by the former European Parliament President, Antonio Tajani, who said "Long live Italian Istria and Dalmatia" at a remembrance day ceremony near Trieste.

"That's not the same. This was orchestrated specifically for the 100th anniversary. We immediately condemned it and presented a formal note. As I understood the response from the Italian side, it has nothing to do with their government policy," Plenković said.

Croatia's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman on Thursday said that he most sharply condemns a decision by the City of Trieste to erect a monument to fascism originator Gabriele D'Annunzio, which the ministry expressed in a diplomatic protest note, and added that anyone who promotes "ideologies that were defeated has no place in this kind of EU."

Trieste today unveiled the monument to D'Annunzio, who on 12 September 1919 proclaimed Rijeka as an independent state called the Italian Regency of Carnaro. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs sent a diplomatic note in reaction.

"We most sharply condemned that act. The Italian Ambassador came too and in a way apologised," Grlić Radman said in an interview with the Media Servis online news portal.

On Thursday morning, a historical flag of the Kingdom of Italy was displayed on the fence of the Governor's Palace in the northern Croatian Adriatic city of Rijeka and Grlić Radman commended the police for their quick response.

"The Croatian police reacted promptly to the displaying of the flag of the Kingdom of Italy, the flag of the occupier, and arrested the perpetrators."

Grlić Radman said that this is not an example of Italy's state policy and that he considers Italy to be "one of the most important members of the EU," but rather a decision by local authorities in Trieste. He recalled that Croatia considers D'Annunzio an occupier.

"Those are ideologies that were defeated and that introduced the horrors of the Second World War. Anyone who supports such an ideology has no place in this kind of European Union," Grlić Radman said.

Asked about a comment from Serbia that a terrifying revision of history was occurring in Croatia, Grlić Radman said that he did not "know whether to laugh or pay any importance to that."

"The surprising thing is that Serbia doesn't understand the geo-political context," he added.

More news about relations between Croatia and Italy can be found in the Politics section.

September 12, 2019 - A vibrant cultural program will help crown Rijeka as the European Capital of Culture in 2020.

HRTurizam announced that the program would be presented to the media and the public in succession, during September and October, according to seven themes which bring in several individual programs and projects.

The events that will take place in Rijeka and the area of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, in 27 neighborhoods, were presented earlier this week, which have a particularly pronounced regional and European dimension.

By bringing together 27 neighborhoods across the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and connecting them with neighborhoods from the 27 EU Member States, the inhabitants of the islands, coast, hinterland, highlands, city of Rijeka and Europe are brought together to cooperate and exchange experiences, customs, and everyday life. Connections and informal networks of cooperation are the keys to future cultural activities that will continue beyond 2020.

Emina Visnic, the director of Rijeka 2020, who was brought on to implement the European Capital of Culture project, emphasized that the project also brings high culture, big names, exhibitions, performances and concerts that represent a top cultural offer. However, the launch of the 2020 program deliberately started with this program direction, as it brings lasting value to Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County - with motivated and active residents, aware that culture can be the driver of development of their small communities, which can make them recognizable on a larger scale. 

“European cooperation and communication were launched with European neighbors, residents of Rijeka and the County to provide a European cultural passport. For to feel European or to feel belonging to Europe's cultural and historical heritage is not a matter of administrative treaties and borders. On the contrary - this feeling rests on a deep understanding that we share with residents of other European countries and can share a number of common issues, challenges, problems, but also find ways to solve them,” explained Visnic.

For example, Crikvenica's program focuses on the old village at the top of the Kotor hill, which is one of the few localities without the construction of apartments. Fužine focuses on the topic of depopulation of Gorski Kotar, telling the story of school closures due to an insufficient number of students, while the Kastav neighborhood highlights the issues of endangered languages and minority language rights, since less than 1000 people speak the Kastav Chakavian language today. The Border District of the Drenova Neighborhood Program, as a Rijeka neighborhood, is driven by the idea of harnessing the potential in the settlement that can become a driver for the development of various amenities aimed at quality leisure time. Opatija, in its program, raises the question of an ecological future without waste in tourism.

The program's name itself - 27 Neighborhoods - is symbolically related to the 27 EU countries that make up Croatia's European neighborhood. The City of Rijeka's European Capital of Culture program included officials and locals from 27 cities, municipalities and villages in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the Capital of Culture project linked them to as many local communities and organizations in the European Union.

The basis of the European Capital of Culture project is precisely to connect European citizens by presenting and learning about the cultural diversity of the countries that make up Europe's total wealth, the organizers point out.

The programs bring a variety of cultural and artistic events, in which small communities can talk about their everyday life interestingly and attractively, as well as problems that are integral to the urban and rural areas of Gorski Kotar, the islands, coasts, cities, and villages.

You can find the full program and more details about the 27 Neighborhoods here.

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

September 10, 2019 - As the summer season comes to an end, we look ahead to the winter in Croatia. Thus, Croatia Airlines has announced some small changes to its flight schedule this year. 

Recall, Croatia will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from January 1, 2020. With that said, Ex Yu Aviation reports that the national carrier will add a one flight per week between Brussels and Zagreb, totaling to 12 per week. Furthermore, the seasonal service between Zagreb and Dublin will work until January 26, 2020, while its operations between Zagreb and Lisbon will end at the end of October. 

Croatia Airlines will maintain the same winter operations for other Croatian cities this year, which include flights from Split to Frankfurt, Munich and Rome, Dubrovnik to Frankfurt, and Rijeka to Munich. Croatia Airlines has also announced no changes to its winter operations between Croatian locations. 

Recall, Croatia Airlines is currently undergoing a privatization process, which the Croatian Minister for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković, previously said should be completed by the end of the year. “I believe we will deliver within the set timeframe,” the Minister said. Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ) and Germany's DVB Bank are advising the airline in the process.

While the national carrier projects a 5% increase in passenger traffic by the end of 2019, there are no plans to make any significant changes to its services until the privatization process is complete. 

Ex Yu Aviation adds that Croatia Airlines even dropped its plans to extend the wet-lease for one of Air Nostrum's Bombardier CRJ1000 jets into the winter months, which would have lengthened some of its seasonal routes. Croatia Airlines currently maintains twelve routes from Zagreb during the summer.

Croatia Airlines has welcomed 960,620 passengers from January to June this year, which is an increase of 1.2% compared to 2018. 

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

September 5, 2019 - What’s cooking in Rijeka these days? A New York Times report and a show that will be broadcast primetime on BBC One. But that's just part of it.  

Namely, Alex Crevar, an experienced journalist who regularly collaborates with The New York Times, National Geographic Travel and Lonely Planet, is currently visiting the 2020 European Capital of Culture, reports Novi List.

Crevar is exploring the city before it takes on the title of the European Capital of Culture next year. During his stay, Crevar visited all the major sites and institutions that will host and be part of the Rijeka 2020 program.

Crevar is apparently enjoying his visit so much, he extended his stay by three more days and will carry on in the Croatian city until the opening of the Porto Etno Festival on Friday.

Alex Crevar is hosted by Edi Jurković, chief communications officer for Rijeka 2020, who revealed everything that Rijeka, its residents, and all guests can expect in the year ahead, as well as the hidden and undiscovered charms of the city. The journalist was particularly impressed with the Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc where he enjoyed browsing the ceiling paintings and the time capsule.

Crevar also spoke with Idis Turat, a well-known local architect, not only about the specifics of the city's architecture, but also about the program direction of Sweet and Salt Rijeka 2020. Crevar also visited Tito’s ‘Galeb’ ship, whose story he found particularly interesting. The Galeb’s new life as a museum ship should surely be a draw for tourists, especially from America.

During his stay, Crevar will also speak with the city's Mayor Vojko Obersnel, Culture Manager Ivan Šarar, and Rijeka 2020 Director Emina Višnić.

However, the New York Times is not the only foreign media in the city. We must not forget of the five-member British production team led by producer Ewan Chamberlain, who is reporting on Rijeka for one of the UK's most important television channels, BBC One, and the Gateway TV show. 

“The report will be broadcast primetime on BBC One, followed by a replay on BBC Two which is visible in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and will then be available on their web platform. They arrived in Rijeka organized by the Croatian National Tourist Board, and of course, their main focus is Rijeka as the European Capital of Culture 2020,” said Dino Matešić of the Rijeka Tourist Board.

The British TV crew stayed in Rijeka for two days and visited many attractions including the Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc, the ‘Galeb’, Korzo, the Trieste fortress, Rijeka cathedral, and the Governor's Palace to see the original Titanic vest. They also visited the unique Peek&Poke computer museum and the Astronomy Center.

“They even visited the future Art Quarter, that is, the ex Benčić complex, and a really special experience was the trip to the fish market and the plaza,” says Matešić , adding that they plan to visit Krk and Opatija.

In mid-August, a major report was published by Die Welt, one of Germany's most circulated dailies, and French Le Monde and Italian Rai also have plans to visit, focusing on the large exhibition 'D'Annunzio’s Martyr', which will open in mid-September in the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral, that is, the Governor's Palace, which thematizes D'Annunzio’s occupation of Rijeka, which happened exactly one hundred years ago.

All in all, as the year 2020 approaches, or the takeover of the prestigious title of the European Capital of Culture, numerous foreign journalists, bloggers, and tourism professionals are increasingly visiting Rijeka. This is the result of intensive work on the international promotion of Rijeka 2020, joined by the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Tourist Board of both the City of Rijeka and Kvarner, and the Rijeka 2020 company.

Thus, in the past year, Rijeka has been visited by media teams including Irish Daily Mirror, The Times, National Geographic Traveler UK, Le Télégramme, The Mail on Sunday, Magazin Catholic Digest, Magazin Auto Touring, Giornale Sentire, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times.

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

September 3, 2019 - The integrated passenger transportation system by Croatian Railways trains and Autotrolej buses have been put into operation. From September 1, passengers in Rijeka, Bakar and Matulji can also travel by train with Autotrolej tickets at no extra charge, reports HRTurizam.

This is the beginning of the implementation of integrated transport in the Rijeka area, which aims to increase the number of public transport trips, which will lead to a decrease in passenger cars on the roads, an increase in road safety and a reduction in the exhaust gas, the City of Rijeka said.

“The full integration of the railway into urban public transport will follow the construction of the second track between Škrljevo, Rijeka, and Jurdani, and by then this project aims at restoring the habit of using the railway for daily commuting to and from the city. To that end, new stops will be opened by the end of the year in the Bakar and Matulji area, and completion of the stop at the Fenice Theater in the center of Rijeka is expected in January next year,” said Rijeka Mayor Veljko Obersnel.

From now on, trains carry passengers from Šapjane in the west, to Fužine in the east, with passengers using a unique monthly subscription card for transport by train and city buses.

The Agreement on long-term partnership in the development of integrated passenger transport in the City of Rijeka, as well as the Agreement on the promotion of integrated passenger transport using a work, student, and retirement prepaid card, was signed in June this year, when the first passenger train test was organized on the Rijeka - Šapjane - Rijeka route. 

The joint monthly ticket of HŽPP - KD Autotrolej enables train transportation within 4 zones and Autotrolej buses. City trains will operate 12 departures daily between Jurdani and Rijeka, while there will be 14 departures between Fužine and Rijeka - Fužine.

Full implementation of the integrated passenger transport system is expected after the construction of the second railway track from Škrljevo to Jurdani.

The construction of the second track on the existing Škrljevo - Rijeka - Šapjane line includes the reconstruction of the existing railway stations and stops at the section in question and the construction of new railway stops in the function of urban/suburban traffic.

Stations outside the city limits (Jurdani, Škrljevo, along with Matulji, Rukavac and Jušići) will be used as endpoints. The length of the route within the city limits is approximately 18 km.

The following city/suburban railway stations are being constructed along the corridor: Pavlovac, Martinkovac, Marčeljeva Draga, Kantrida / Zamet, Krnjevo, Mlaka, Center (Station), Zagrad, Školjić, Sušak, Caves, Podvežica, Vežica, Draga, Sveti Kuzam.

According to the Croatian Railways' plans, the preparation of all documentation for this project, including property legal preparation, should be completed by 2020.

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

September 2, 2019 - The 7th round of the Croatian First League was held from August 30 to September 1, 2019, and featured the highly anticipated ‘Eternal Derby’ between Hajduk and Dinamo. 

Lokomotiva v. Slaven Belupo (6:1)

Lokomotiva and Belupo opened the 7th round of the Croatian First League at Kranjčevićeva Street stadium in Zagreb in front of 732 fans. 

Lokomotiva opened the game with two goals in the first half by Tolic and Kastrati for 2:0. Though the home team’s scoring spree was far from over. Cokaj increased Lokomotiva’s lead in the 46th minute for 3:0, followed by another goal by Kastrati in the 50th for 4:0. Fortunately, Belupo was able to get one goal in the 56th minute (penalty), which made the game 4:1. Drozdek, however, increased Lokomotiva’s lead to 5:1 in the 61st and Petrak scored Lokomotiva’s last of the game in the 80th minute for the final score of 6:1. 

Lokomotiva is currently in 6th place with 10 points, while Belupo is in 8th with 7. 

Hajduk v. Dinamo (1:0)

Hajduk and Dinamo met at Poljud on Saturday, August 31, 2019, in front of 29,359 fans for the first ‘Eternal Derby’ of the season. 

While the first half showed Dinamo’s strength, Hajduk was a new team in the second and spectators experience a true derby atmosphere. It wasn’t until the 56th minute when we saw the first and only goal of the game, which came from a stellar Jradi header over the top of Livaković’s head for 1:0 Hajduk. Diamo’s Dilaver was given a red card in the 75th minute, which was followed by the second yellow for Hajduk’s Jradi. Both teams finished the game with 10 men. The derby went without any major incidents, though two of Dinamo’s assistant coaches were also shown red cards in the second half. 

Hajduk is currently first on the table with 15 points, while Dinamo is in 2nd with 13. 

Istra 1961 v. Osijek (0:0)

Istra and Osijek met on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at Aldo Drosina stadium in Pula in front of 1,956 fans. 

The game went without any goals and ended at 0:0. 

Istra is currently in 7th place with 8 points, while Osijek is in 3rd with 12. 

Varaždin v. Gorica (1:3)

Varaždin and Gorica met on Sunday, September 1, 2019, at VK Varteks Stadium. 

Gorica’s Lovric was the first to score in the 20th minute for 0:1, though Benko came back to equalize in the 37th minute for 1:1 at the half. 

However, Gorica retook the lead thanks to another Lovric goal in the 57th minute, and a hat trick for Lovric increased Gorica’s lead to 1:3, which was the final score of the game. 

Varaždin is currently in the last place with 3 points, while Gorica is in 5th with 11. 

Rijeka v. Inter Zaprešić (1:1)

Rijeka and Inter closed out the 7th round on Sunday, September 1, 2019, at Rujevica stadium in front of 3,529 fans. 

Inter was awarded a penalty already in the second minute of the game, which put the guests up 0:1. Rijeka equalized in the 31st minute thanks to a goal by Gorgon. Neither team was able to score in the second half, and the game ended 1:1. 

Rijeka is currently in 4th place with 11 points, while Inter is in 9th place with 3. 

You can see the full table here. 

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