Written by Andrew R.
HNL clubs took to the pitch for midweek action in the Conference League 3rd Qualifying Third round (2nd legs) Thursday night. Osijek and Rijeka were on home soil while Hajduk went to Athens for their match against PAOK. ?It will only be Rijeka moving on as Osijek and Hajduk find the end of the road. Here’s how it all unfolded.
Hajduk vs PAOK (0:3)
Last week at Poljud, Hajduk left with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Greek side, PAOK. In both matches, Hajduk had 15 shots a piece in each game. In the home leg, Hajduk recorded 5 of their 15 shots on target vs 3 on the road in Thessaloniki. Although PAOK had far less chances on goal, they capitalized on the few they had, putting away three of their four shots on target in the 2nd leg. With Hajduk giving away a penalty in the opening five minutes of the match, the rest of the game had them playing catch up. Hajduk did hang around for most of the game after the penalty, and created some opportunities. Those oppurtunities however were not enough. Andrija Živković netted two goals in six minutes for the Greek side to seal Hajduk’s fate. Our Croatian Cup Champions bowed out earlier than anticipated in their first round of European play. With Hajduk fans buzzing about their expectations in the domestic league, it seems like Hajduk are back to the drawing board for European play…at least for this season.
Rijeka vs B36 Torshavn (2:0)
Stadion Rujevica packed in for another opportunity to watch HNK Rijeka go through another round of Conference League qualifying Thursday night. After a comfortable 3-1 victory in the Faroe Islands last week, Rijeka came home to finish off the job against B36 and confirm their spot against French giants Lille. While no Rijeka field players scored until an Alen Grgić 82nd minute goal, Magnus Egilsson did cause an error leading to an own goal from the Torshavn defender. The importance of the quickness of the own goal allowed Rijeka to get comfortable with the match and ramp up their pressure. Rijeka’s offense was busy throughout the match, having 20 shots in the match compared to B36’s three. If Rijeka wants to be competitive in the final round against Lille, they will need to capitalize on those shots as half of them were not on target. Rijeka cruised through yet another European round with an aggregate score of 5-1 against the Faroese club. Dinamo Zagreb have already confirmed at least one Croatian club in the group stages of Conference League; Sergej Jakirović and his Rijeka squad are ready to slip into a David vs. Goliath match against Ligue 1 side Lille. If the HNS wants the European coefficient to go up, all hope is riding on Rijeka to do the impossible.
Osijek vs Adana Demirspor (3:2)
As Osijek entered their second leg down 5-1, Opus Arena had another opportunity for a remarkable moment: have the unthinkable happen and see Osijek come back to play in Europe. While the Bijelo-Plavi were certainly the better side of the night and fought valiantly, in the end, their 3-2 win was not enough. One bright spot that Osijek fans can continue to focus on is the performance of midfielders Mijo Caktaš and Darko Nejašmić. Both players recorded goals on the night to bring Osijek back to a fighting chance against the Turkish club. Caktaš boasted a 90% pass success rate while Nejašmić went 100% in dribble attempts. The more this duo continues to play together, the more comfortable they become, bossing the midfield around not only creating countless opportunities and breathing life into the Osijek attack but, putting away the chances they receive too. While Adana did get two goals in Thursday’s match, Osijek stole the show with their fighting spirit, a spirit that was surely not seen a week ago in Turkey.
Very disappointed with Hajduk, over the two legs they had more chances but simply could not score. Livaja was bad today and should have scored in the 8th minute which in the end proved costly. The penalty awarded to PAOK in the 12 th minute by the German ref was way too soft. Yet at the start of the second half similar incident in the PAOK penalty box the ref failed to award Hajduk a spot kick. To play in Europe you need quality players especially in midfield and unfortunately Hajduk lacks quality all over the park.
So far in Europe our clubs have played 12 matches for:
8 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses with Hajduk once again contributing very little towards our UEFA national club coefficient.
I was pretty optimistic about Hajduk getting through. I felt they were better in the first leg and started well today but at the end of the day, they didn’t have anyone outside of Livaja that could change the game.
I wish people that have promoted Krovinovic in the past finally come out and admit the guy is a bust and his peak is being an average player that can compete against weaker teams and then he completely disappears in any game that matters. Good Lord that guy is all talk, nothing else.
I’m a big believer in mentality. Livaja doesn’t back down from any challenge…he’s a fighter and believes he can win every game. I don’t see more guys on Hajduk that have his mentality. This team was definitely good enough to beat PAOK but they weren’t mentally strong enough.
Yesterday the Hajduk Twitter Warriors were saying it might be good if Hajduk get knocked out and they’re talking about how Dinamo selling their better players will weaken them…leaving Hajduk the chance to finally win the league. Let me just say this…if Hajduk don’t win the league this year, while they have every single advantage…they may as well pack it in and play bocce…they’ve never been in a better position then this in the last 17 seasons.
Agree, this has to be the year for Hajduk to win the league based on the facts that you have raised. Dinamo will be playing in Europe, some key players will leave, and they have had a bad start including a loss at home to Hajduk.
Krovinovic is one of the highest paid players at Hajduk but the guy is not worth it. Poor performance against PAOK in both matches and was rightly subbed last night. He does not excel even in HNL, never was a big fan of his.
Livaja’s contract runs until 2027 and that will hurt Hajduk.
He may be good for them right now, but they need more finishers to score on the possession and chances they have been creating.
I can’t see Perišić (or similar veteran players) wanting to join a team where Livaja is king.
Livaja is at club legend status already and he’ll expect to be starter from now until 2027.
He was a good addition in order for Hajduk to move from being a mediocre HNL team to becoming a HNL contender…but they’ll need to upgrade if they want to be a European club.
How much would you like to bet on Perisic. It might be now or it might be at this time next year, but Perisic will be at Hajduk.
I’m not even a hajduk fan but he will go there. Anyone who follows what is going on with him knows where he is going to end up. Are you under some belief they play the same position?
lets not forget that Mlakar “open hand, slapped” Ljubicic across the face and Ljubicic eventually saw he had no more support at Hajduk, losing his playing time and forced was to leave. Then their over-hyped star Biuk abruptly leaves the club for LA and now their complaining about the lack of outside attackers. If we add in the fact that they romanced N Kalinic and sang loves songs to entice him like “vrime je”…and then gave him the boot up the ass once they realized what I could have told them 5 years ago…he’s not a reliable or dependable player to lead an attack…between injuries and childish tantrums when he gets pulled, he’s only good for 20 second clips on how to dive like a pussy!
Pukstas is Hajduk’s second best player and they’ll go back to relying on him as soon as he recovers from his injury.
What are you talking about? Mlakar smacked Ljubicic? Making things up? Even if true, so what. Teams fight. Some of the best teams ever had players who didn’t get along. They even slept with their WAGs. That doesn’t mean anything.
You sound like a person who never played a sport in your life. Get off your couch.
Davor, you’re obviously new here and wayyy behind on events. this was talked about several months back…common knowledge for the average follower. there’s probably tons of stuff we’ve discussed here that you never knew…stop pretending you’re some know-it-all!
I noticed you’re looking for attention…might be smart from you to stop insulting people before you know anything about them. you’ve made several comments that come across as if you’re some asshole, trying to bait people into an argument.
the other day I saw you write this and I didn’t reply because its obvious you are a little clueless
“Davor
August 17, 2023
Thanks for stating the obvious.
They lost this last week in Split where they should have won 2-0 or 3-0.”
ummm…no they didn’t lose in Split, they tied 0-0…only a small detail but an important one. you’re just trolling the fuck outta people and you look ignorant while doing it. either be polite or report to the Fuck Off department!
so far, you come across as some type of mentally challenged idiot…you really need to be a little more cordial with people.
just because some of you wanna be guys who never played a game in your life make up a lie about the topic, doesnt mean it actually took place. Something like that would have been mentioned by the Cro media. they love shit like that. They would have been on top of it.
Pardon. I was a bit too strong on that response.
ZRINSKI HAS ALWAYS BEEN power Hrvati
Hajduk out early of another Euro season. I’m shocked.
HAJDUK GOT HOSED TODAY…LIVAJA IS A BEAST…!!!! =U=
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwDuI8dN2CU/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Special congratulations to Zrinjski Mostar today. They started more Croats than Hajduk did. Can anyone make a connection here……..?
Croats or Bosnian Croats? One is not the same as the other.
According to Sofascore, 7 Croats started. The were 2 BiH Croats as well. So actually, in my books and as far as I’m concerned, 9 Croatians in the starting lineup.
Hrvati and not diaspora like you.
my comment was meant for Davor.
Bosian croats are not croats…they are bosanci. Thankfully, they have not migrated to Istra. Go to Zagreb. They are like the migrants in Sweden. Made Zagreb dirtier
ahhhh soo your are diaspora lol… Big “Croatian” but never even lived there probably lol… sramotis se.. in fact I bet your family is probably italian LOL
Its just funny that you comment on other people’s “Croatianess” when you dont even live there lol… typical “I was not born in Croatia” attitude by diaspora.. You’re projecting your insecurities but its all good..
You would not be able to afford where I have my house and property in Istra.
LOLLLL American immigrant goes to see where he is from and buys expensive property… how cliche
because that is what you are, you werent born in Croatia and now you are compensating.. its all good man
14 straight years and counting…not even sure how else to say this other than Hajduk really doesn’t have the experience to win when they need to in Europe.
It’s really disappointing, and I’m a Dinamovac.
Thanks for stating the obvious.
They lost this last week in Split where they should have won 2-0 or 3-0. Livaja and Melnjak are a class above everyone else at Hajduk. Any opportunity is created by those two. And Livaja can’t pass to himself. If he could he would have scored on some of those passes last week and the week before.
Either way, fuck hajduk. But, I do realize they are the only club that actually draws viewers and an audience in the country. So, we actually need a good hajduk or nobody would follow the HNL.
I’ve been watching the Hajduk game since the penalty and can say that they have been the better side, albeit without any luck. They just lack that extra something in the final third. I’m not a Livaja fan, but he’s been excellent. He’s fed Meljnak down the flank a half dozen times only for Meljnak to botch service. Much like Dinamo’s, the imports are useless. I wish they’d just go with homegrown talent. Sigur looks like he has loads of potential. Krovinovic is useless. Kotarski has real command of his box. Hopefully there’s a 2nd half turnaround.
I agree! They need someone besides Livaja, he can’t pass himself the ball unfortunately!
What home grown talent?
I dont think hajduk deserved to lose 3-0 today. Outplayed PAOK most of the match, but comical goals. Anyway, I hate them so I am OK with the result. Maybe now this love fest by the media in Cro can end
After watching the 2nd half, I remember why I don’t like Livaja. Invisible…… The import from Ivory Coast was horrendous. He was directly responsible for the 2nd and 3rd goals. I’d never let him play again. I’m dead serious. Enough of this shit. Surely we’ve got some Dalmatinci capable of no worse.
Gvardiol with man of match yesterday as per BBC
I was under the impression he struggled
he was good, especially considering it was his first start + his 2nd half showed improvement over the 1st…but, he should not be man of the match – Palmer should be
BBC projecting I would say