July 15, 2021
The Croatian First Football League, more commonly referred to as the 1.HNL or for sponsorship reasons, the Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga, begins its 2021/22 season this week-end, just under two months after the 2020/21 season finished
History
The Croatian Championship was first competed for in 1991 following the break up Yugoslavia and the dissolution of the Yugoslav First League. Only four sides have won the HNL, with Dinamo Zagreb winning the title 22 times, Hajduk Split 6 times, and Rijeka and NK Zagreb winning once each
League Structure
The league consists of 10 sides who play each other home and away twice for a 36 game season. The winners qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League with the runners-up, the side finishing third, and the winner of the Croatian Cup qualifying for the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round. If the Cup winner finishes in the top three, the side finishing fourth takes the final Europa Conference place.
The side finishing bottom is relegated to the Croatia Second Football League and replaced by the Champions of the 18 team Second Division
The 1.HNL is currently ranked 16th in UEFA’s coefficient table, just below Switzerland but above Turkey.
Last Season
Due to Covid and the delays in finishing the previous season, the 2020/21 season started on 14th August and finished on 22nd May.
For once, defending champions Dinamo Zagreb did not have things all their own way, and with 9 games still to play they were only one point ahead of surprise challengers Osijek, whose 3-0 win in the fog over Slaven Belupo was featured in these diaries in February. However, a run of just one win and four draws in 6, including a 1-1 draw at home to Dinamo saw Osijek fall back as Dinamo picked up 12 points in the same period, and ultimately Dinamo finished 8 points clear. Second place represented Osijek’s best ever finish in the 1.HNL.
Rijeka, winners of the league in 2016/17, finished a distant third, 17 points behind Osijek, and with Dinamo Zagreb winning the Croatian Cup, Hadjuk Split qualified for the Europa Conference after finishing in fourth place, one point behind Rijeka and one point ahead of Gorica.
At the bottom, Varazdin were relegated. They went into the final day one point behind Istra 1961 knowing a win at Slaven Belupo could save them, as Istra faced a tough match at Osijek. Although Istra predictably lost at Osijek, Varazdin were unable to take advantage. They thought they had grabbed a lifeline in the 62nd minute, but their goal was disallowed for offside. Then Zvonarek’s 88th minute drive from the edge of the area saw Varazdin relegated. Had the game remained goal-less they would have survived on a better head-to-head record against Istra……
Hrvatski Dragovoljac replace Varazdin after promotion from Div 2, having won the league by finishing 2 points ahead of Rudes. They were last in the top flight in 2013/14
In Europe, Dinamo Zagreb had a glorious 2020/21 campaign. Despite a Champions League exit to Ferencvaros, dropping down to the Europa League saw Dinamo top a group including Feyenoord, Wolfsberger of Austria and CSKA Moscow. A dramatic extra-time win over Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur, coming back from a 0-2 first leg loss to win 3-0 in Zagreb, thanks to a stunning hat-trick by Mislav Orsic, saw them reach the last 8 eight. Coach Zoran Mamic had stood down in the week before the second leg against Spurs after being convicted of tax evasion, and was replaced by assistant coach Damir Krznar. Unfortunately, Villareal proved to be two strong in the quarter finals and won 1-3 over the two legs.
Rijeka also reached the group stages of the Europa League after beating Ukrainians Kolos Kovalivka 2-0 in extra-time at home and then winning 1-0 at FC Copenhagen. Despite beating AZ Alkmaar 2-1 at home and drawing in Spain 2-2 with Real Sociedad, four defeats, including home and away with Napoli saw them finish bottom of their group.
Elsewhere in the Europa League, Hadjuk Split won 1-0 in North Macedonia against FK Renova before losing 0-2 in Turkey to Galatasaray. Osijek lost at home 1-2 to Basel
Performances in Europe So Far This Season
An under-strength Dinamo Zagreb, with just their two North Macedonians out of their 8 players who were in Euro 2020 squads, faced Valur Reykjavik in the first leg of the first Qualifying Round of the Champions League in the Maksimir in front of a restricted attendance of 987 spectators.
Dinamo were easing to a comfortable victory, leading 3-0 with 8 minutes to play and about to take a penalty. However, North Macedonian international midfielder Arijan Ahmedi, back from the Euro 2020 finals, and with two goals already under his belt, saw the penalty for his hat-trick saved.
Two late goals for the Icelandic champions, the first an impressive header by Kristinn Sigurdsson from the rebound after his penalty kick had been saved, the second high on comedy value when Dinamo’s Danish defender Rasmus Lauritsen’s, attempted clearance hit his own face and fell kindly to Andri Aldophsson, who produced a top quality finish to leave Dinamo facing a potentially tricky task in Reykjavik after just a 3-2 victory.
The second leg was streamed live on Dinamo’s YouTube channel, and their starting line up was strengthened by the return of three of their Croatian internationals, Orsic, Petkovic and Ivanuesc and Gavronovic made an appearance from the bench.
Ivanuesc gave Dinamo the lead just after the half hour mark, running through the heart of the Valur defence to score from 12 yards, and Orsic wrapped up the victory with a fine finish into the roof of the net in the 89th minute after a good run from full back by Kastriati.
Dinamo now play Omonia Nicosia in the Second Qualifying round.
In the Europa Conference, Osijek face Polish side Pogon Szczecin, Hajduk play Kazakh side Tobol, whilst Rijeka will play the winners of the Saint Julia ( Andorra ) vs Gzira United ( Malta tie ). First legs to be played on July 22nd.
Attendances
Spectators were only permitted at a handful of matches in 2020/21. The last full season with unrestricted crowds was 2019/20, when Hajduk were the best supported side with an average of 9,864. Rijeka were the next best with 4,088, followed by Dinamo Zagreb with 3,372.
How To Watch
All matches have been available to watch via Bet365. Decent highlights can be seen on the Hravtska Nogometna TV YouTube channel.
Preview
GNK Dinamo Zagreb
Location : Zagreb ( capital of Croatia )
Stadium : Maksimir ( capacity : 35,123 )
Colours : All Blue
Comments :
Dinamo are again short priced favourites to win the title again, In addition to 22 league titles, they have also won the Croatian Cup 16 times.
Past players include Luka Modric, Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinicki, Dejan Lovren and Mark Viduka. In 1966/67 they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup with a 2-0 aggregate win over Leeds United and lost in the 1962/63 final to Valencia 1-4 on aggregate.
Defender Josko Gvardiol, who impressed at Euro 2020 and was dubbed little Guardiola, has returned to parent club RB Leipzig after spending last season back at Dinamo. The Germans had paid £17M for him in the summer of 2020.
However, Dinamo’s 7 other players who were selected for Euro 2020 squads, Swiss striker Marko Gavranovic, North Macedonians Stefan Ristovksi and Arijan Ademi, plus Croatians Mislav Orsic, Luka Ivanuesc, Bruno Petkovic and Dominik Livakovic are still with the club.
Midfielder Josip Misic ( 2 caps ) has signed permanently after being on loan from Sporting Lisbon ), and ex Standard Liege, Malaga and Valladolid forward Duje Cop ( 13 caps ) signed in time to make his debut in the CL match against Valur
Other key players include midfielders Lovro Majer ( 1 cap ) & Kristjian Jakic, defenders Dino Peric ( 2 caps ) & Marin Loevac ( 5 caps – ex Austria Wien and PAOK ),
Foreign players include Kosovan winger Lirim Kastriati ( 11 caps ), ex Cardiff City French defender Kevin Theophile-Catherine, Danish defender Rasmus Lauritsen, Slovenian right-back Peter Stojanovic ( 27 caps ), Bosnian winger Luka Menalo ( on loan to Rijeka in 2020/21 – 4 caps ), Bosnian midfielder Amer Gojak ( 21 caps - back from a loan spell at Torino and Iranian defender Sadegh Moharrami ( 9 caps ). Ex-Arsenal youth and Welsh U21 midfielder Robbie Burton is also with the club
NK Osijek
Location : Osijek ( 4th largest city in the country, 280km east of the capital Zagreb )
Stadium : Gradski vrt ( capacity : 17,061 )
Colours : Blue and White hoops, Blue shorts
Comments :
22 goals from Argentine striker Ramon Mierez were a major factor in Osijek’s unexpected title bid and Osijek have been able to convert his loan from Alaves into a permanent transfer for a reported 2.5M Euros. Serbian centre-back Slavko Bralic has re-joined the club on a free transfer from Vojvodina and winger Sime Grzan has joined from Istra 1961.
Captain Milo Skoric ( 5 caps ) was a member of Croatia’s Euro 2020 squad and keeper Ivica Ivusic was ever present last season. Hungarian attacking midfielder Lazslo Kleinheisler ( 13 caps ) was a member of Hungary’s Euro 2020 squad and scored 6 times in 2020/21.
Slovenian winger Damjan Bohar, who was signed in 2020 from Polish side Zaglebie Lubin for a reported 900K Euros, netted 7 times, Bosnian forward Ante Erceg scored 4 times last season and continues on loan from Danish side Brondby, and,midfielders Mihail Zaper and Marin Pilj both made 30 appearances.
In the winter break Osijek signed Austrian-Bosnian forward Mihret Topcagic, who readers of these diaries will recognise from playing for FK Suduva in Lithuania last year. However, he is yet to make an appearance.
Brazilian defender Guti was been released at the end of his contract and midfielder Josip Vukevic has joined Hadjuk on a free transfer.
HNK Rijeka
Location : Rijeka ( third largest city in the country, on the Adriatic coast 160km south-west of Zagreb )
Stadium : Rujevica ( capacity : 8,279 )
Colours : All white
Comment :
Rijeka will be aiming to come a lot closer than they did in 2020/21 to claiming a second title after being unexpected winners in 2016/17 although a number of key players from last season are no longer at the club.
Keeper Ivan Nevistic, left back Daniel Stefulj and centre-forward Sandro Kulenovic made 33, 32 and 26 appearances respectively in 2020/21 but have all returned to Dinamo Zagreb after season long loans. Franko Andrijasevic was their top scorer with 13 goals, but has moved to a side in the Chinese Second Division. Central African Republic striker Sterling Yateke made 19 appearances on loan from Austria Wien but has also returned to his parent club
The replacements include Colombian striker Jorge Obregon, signed from relegated Varazdin after scoring 7 goals in 34 appearances in a losing campaign and Ghanaian winger Prince Ampem from Sibenik. Ghanaian forward Abass Issah has signed on a season long loan from Mainz and Nedijko Labrovic has been signed from Sibenik on a free transfer and will be competing with veteran Andrej Prskalo to be the new No 1 keeper.
Defender Darko Velkovski ( 27 caps ) was part of the North Macedonia squad for Euro 2020. Other key players at the club include ex-Ajax winger Robert Muric, who scored 8 times last season, Swiss International forward Josip Drmic scored 6 times and is on loan from Norwich until June 2022, and Bosnian midfielder Stjepan Loncar ( 9 caps ) made 31 appearances.
Adam Cerin is on loan from Nurnberg ( 1 cap for Slovenia ) and midfielder Robert Mudrazija on loan from FC Copenhagen
HNK Hajduk Split
Location : Split ( second largest city in the country, on the Adriatic coast 400km south of Zagreb )
Stadium : Puljud ( capacity : 34,198 )
Colours : White shirts, Blue shorts
Comment :
Hajduk, named after the freedom fighters who fought against Hapsburg and Ottoman occupations, were once a mainstay of the Yugoslav First League, which they won 4 times in the 1970s, and were respected competitors in European competition. It is fair to say Hajduk have been serial underachievers since last winning the Croatian First League in 2004/05 and have failed to achieve a top three finish in the last three seasons. Only an incredible run of 5 wins and a draw in their last six matches saw them grab fourth position and a place in the Europa Conference, thanks to Dinamo Zagreb winning the Croatian Cup
Swedish coach Jens Gustafsson, previously in charge at IFK Norkopping, was appointed at the end of May and the Hajduk squad has seen a number of changes for the new season, so it will be interesting to see if they can fare better this time.
Attacking midfielder Mijo Caktas ( 1 cap ) who was the league’s leader goal scorer in 2018/19 and 2019/20 and Hajduk’s top scorer in 2020/21 with 9 goals has reportedly been released at the end of his contract and hasn’t featured in their pre-season friendlies.
Key defensive midfielder Stanko Juric, who made 33 appearances last season, was sold to Parma for 2m EUR, whilst loanees striker Umet Nayir ( Besiktas ), Bosnian defenders Darko Todorovic ( RB Salzburg ) and Nehad Mujakic ( Kortrijk ), plus Italian midfielder Marco Fossati ( Monza ) have returned to their parent clubs.
New signings include experienced 32 year old Hungarian right-back Gergo Lovrencsics ( 44 caps ) from Ferencvaros and young Slovenian forward Jan Mlakar from Brighton and Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee. Mlakar never figured in a competitive first team fixture for the Seagulls, but had loan spells at Wigan, QPR and back in his home country for Maribor, for whom he scored 14 goals last season to win his first 2 caps in June. Centre-back Josip Elez has signed from Hannover and Josip Vukovic is a free-transfer from Osijek
Core members of the squad who have been retained include keeper Lovre Kalinic ( 19 caps ) who is on loan from Aston Villa and was a member of Croatia’s Euro 2020 squad, although he remained on the bench, Bulgarian centre-back Kristian Dimitrov has 12 caps and ex-Fulham and Watford Swedish winger Alexander Kacaniklic has won 21 caps. Czech centre back Stefan Simic has 2 caps.
20 year old left back David Colina made 29 appearances in 2020/21, as did midfielder Mario Vuskovic.
HNK Gorica
Location : Velika Gorica ( suburb of Zagreb, 20km to the south of the city )
Stadium : Gradski Stadion Velika Gorica ( capacity : 5,200 )
Colours : All White
Comment :
Gorica were in many ways the surprise packet of 2020/21 and for much of the season looked likely to qualify for European football for the first time in their history. An enterprising approach made them the league’s second highest scorers ( after Dinamo ) with the star of the show undoubtedly being winger Kristijan Lovric who scored 15 goals, many of them outstanding, and he earnt a call-up to the national squad to win his first cap.
Unfortunately, a tragic collapse whereby they lost their last three games, whilst Hajduk came from nowhere to overtake them on the final day, saw Gorica ultimately finish 5th.
Gorica have been able to hold on to Lovric and have brought in keeper Dominik Kotarski from Ajax and midfielder Toni Fruk from Fiorentina, both on loan. Also staying with the club are Hrvoje Babic, 33 appearances in midfield last season, Senegalese forward Matar Dieye, who scored 5 times from 30 matches, and captain Matija Dvornekovic, who appeared in 33 matches, 24 times from the bench !
On the negative side, Ognjen Mudrinski, has returned to Jagiellonia Bialystok after scoring 9 times, and Dario Spikic has returned to Dinamo Zagreb after scoring 6 goals in 34 appearance.
HNK Sibenik
Location : Sibenik ( on the Adriatic coast 330km south of Zagreb )
Stadium : Subisevac ( capacity : 3,412 )
Colours : Orange shirts, white shorts
Comment :
In their first season back in 1.HNL since 2012, Sibenik were comfortably in mid-table, and they should have the same expectations this season.
There are no internationals in their squad, but their most important player is probably Australian forward Deni Juric, who scored 11 goals in 2020/21 on loan from Dinamo Zagreb and now appears to be a permanent signing. Cole de Silva, brother of Bristol City’s Jay da Silva, is an interesting signing from Leicester City, as is forward Antonio Marin, on loan from Dinamo Zagreb after previous being on loan at Lokomativa
Defender Juan Mesa is on loan from Colombian side America de Cali, Austrian midfielder Stefan Peric has signed from Wolfsberger AC and ex-Estudiantes Argentine striker Ignacio Bailone has signed an 18 months contract.
On the other hand, Ghanaian winger Prince Ampem and keeper Nedijko Labrovic have joined Rijeka.
NK Slaven Belupo
Location : Koprivnica ( 100km north-east of Zagreb )
Stadium : Gradski ( capacity : 3,134 )
Colours : All Blue
Comment :
Slaven were a solid mid-table side and are likely to have the same expectations this season.
Keeper Ivan Filipovic and Serbian midfielder Nemanja Glavic appeared in all but one match in 2020/21. The top scorers was 38 year old Ivan Krstanovic with 8 goals whilst ex-Hamburg and Nurnburg young German forward Torles Knoll, scored 7 times.
Other foreigners in their squad include Argentinian left-back Gonzalo Gamarra, Cameroon forward Franck Etoundi ( 10 caps ), South Korean defender Kim Hyun-woo, who is on loan from Dinamo, and ex-VVV Dutch defender Damian van Bruggen
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb
Location : Zagreb
Stadium : Kranjceviceva ( capacity : 5,350 )
Colours : Blue shirts with white strips, Blue shorts
Comment :
Lokomotiva won the title in 2006/07 and were runners-up in 2019/20 so an 8th place finish last season was extremely disappointing. A much better campaign will be expected this time around but it is difficult to predict how it will all end up, especially as the Lokomotiva squad resembles a Balkan all-stars selection with 6 Albanians, 6 Bosnians, a Kosovan and a North Macedonian !
Elsewhere in their squad, ex-Hamburg and Schalke centre-back Kyriakos Papadopulos has won 32 caps for Greece, whilst right back Branimir Cipetic and striker Irfan Hazdic have won 5 and 2 caps respectively for Bosnia.
Argentine forward Alan Bonansea was signed at end of last season but has yet to score for his new club. Lokomotiva’s problems were probably summed up by defender Josip Pivaric being top scorer with 6 goals
Albanian midfielder Enis Cokaj made the most appearances with 28 and Belgian forward Moutir Chajiia scored 2 goals in 27 appearances
NK Istra 1961
Location : Pula ( eight largest city in the country, on the Adriatic coast 265km south-west of Zagreb
Stadium : Stadion Aldo Drosina ( capacity 8,000 )
Colours : Yellow Shirts, Green Shorts
Comment :
Having narrowly survived last season, Istra can expect another tough season as several major players have left the club. Winger Sime Grzan, who scored 5 goals in 33 appearances, has joined Osijek on a free transfer, and Montenegrin midfielder Stefan Loncar has joined Serbian side Novi Pazar. Top scorer Matej Vuk ( 6 goals ) has joined Rijeka.
Istra did have one player at the Euro 2020 finals, young Welsh midfielder Dylan Levitt ended the season on loan from Manchester United and represented Istra in7 matches ! Levitt has returned to Old Trafford though.
Spanish side Alaves seem to have a good connection with Istra. Defender Rafa Navarro has arrived on loan whilst fellow Alaves defenders Einar Galilea and Sergi appear to be staying on loan for a second season, In addition, two fringe players at Slaven Belupo, midfielder Frano Mlinar and forward Miroslav Ilicic, have been signed.
Other important players include Austrian keeper Ivan Lucic, who had a very brief spell at Bristol City, midfielder Slavko Blagojevic played 29 times, and Antonio Ivancic played 27 games and scored 5 goals. Winger Hassane Bande, on loan from Ajax, has 6 caps for Burkina Faso.
NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac
Location : Zagreb
Stadium : Stadion NSC Stjepan Spajic ( capacity : 5,000 )
Colours : All Black
Comment :
Hrvatski Dragovoljac only scored 49 goals in 34 games in winning 2.HNL, with midfielder Valentino Majstorovic being top scorer with just 7 goals. 20 year old winger Luka Viduka scored 5 times but has returned to Lokomotiva Zagreb at the end of a season long loan.
The only significant signing announced so far is midfielder Filo Jazvic, who scored 7 goals for Cibalia in 2.HNL last season, although two young midfielder, Dino Skorup and Tonio Telkic, have signed on loan from Hajduk. Both spent some time on loan at relegated Varazdin last season, so hopefully that is not an omen !
They are likely to face a huge battle to avoid relegation.
Round 1 Fixtures
Friday July 16, 2021
GNK Dinamo Zagreb vs NK Slaven Belupo ( 18.55 local/17.55 UK time )
NSKOsijek vs HNK Sibenik ( 21.00 local/20 UK time )
Saturday July 17, 2021
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb vs HNK Hajduk Split ( 18.55 local/17.55 UK time )
HNK Rijeka vs HNK Gorica ( 21.00 local/20 UK time )
Sunday July 18, 2021
NK Istra 1961 vs NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac ( 18.55 local/17.55 UK time )
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