HNL Week 4: Dinamo, Hajduk Cruise As Rudeš Finally Get On The Board!

The 4th round of the Supersport HNL saw a bunch of goals yet again, averaging 4 goals per game across the round. All the home sides – Rudeš, Slaven, Dinamo, Rijeka and Hajduk beat their travelling opponents to get their new three points. The biggest shock of the weekend came immediately on Friday…

Rudeš 4-1 Lokomotiva: Rudeš WIN!

Rudeš (4-3-1-2): Rogić – Unušić, Celjak, Stolnik, Kolega – Fernandes, Skoko, Đorić – Blagaić – Poldrugač, Ilečić

Lokomotiva (4-2-3-1): Posavec – Vešović, Godec, Triantafyllou, Čabrajić – Belcar, Subotić – Vuković, Vasilj, Thaqi – Đurković

This was certainly a shocking start to the HNL weekend. The game started off slowly; nobody was really trying much or pressing until around the 18th minute, when Lokomotiva started to get some rhythm and began trying to break down Rudeš’s defence. But that was cut short in the 22nd minute when Leon Belcar went down in the box and received a 2nd yellow card for diving. Rudeš then switched on as they realised they wouldn’t get a better chance than this, and it didn’t take them long to score. Noa Skoko netted the opener in the 28th minute with a nice finish from the top of the box.

Rudeš continued attacking, searching for a 2nd, and almost found it in the 40th minute as Jurica Poldrugač hit the post from outside the box. But Lokomotiva very quickly got the ball up front for Dušan Vuković, who was all alone with Rogić, as the Rudeš defence was nowhere to be seen after the previous attack. Vuković neatly put it away and equalised heading into the break.

Alen Peternac then brought on another striker, and Rudeš didn’t let Lokomotiva out of their half. In the 53rd minute, Rudeš took the lead through Xavier Fernandes, who was left unmarked in the box for a free header. The substitute, Josip Bralić, then made it 3-1 with a header as well. The 4th and final goal came seven minutes later from Ivan Đorić, with, you guessed it, another header! After that goal, the game calmed down, and everybody accepted the result on the scoreboard.

Well, at least this time we didn’t wait until March for Rudeš to win a game as I thought we would have to. Leon Belcar has really been in decline since joining Dinamo Zagreb on loan back in February 2025. A deal that was very rushed and unlucky, as Belcar was found to have some health issues during that loan and, because of it, spent 90% of his time at the Maksimir on the bench or at home. And he has never returned to the form he had before moving to the capital.

Rudeš, though, still deserve some credit. They went for it and showed they can at least beat teams they have a numbers advantage on — better than the last time they were in the top flight, when they lost to an Istra side that had been down to 10 men for the entire second half, with the score level at 1-1 at the time. But this is still a big result, as it’s exactly what the team needed as soon as possible after the disastrous opening to the season. Let’s see if this new confidence can improve the team’s performance against Varaždin next weekend.

Slaven 2-0 Gorica: Gorica’s Woes Continue

Slaven Belupo (4-2-3-1): Sentić – Krušelj, Kovačić (subbed on 90.+1. Božić), Cvetko, Išasegi – Bosak (subbed on 90.+1. Jonsson), Crepulja – Mitrović, Bošnjak (subbed on 60. Adeshina), Banovec (subbed on 61. Grgić) – Nestorovski (subbed on 67. Dabro).

Gorica (4-2-3-1): Matijaš – Braut (subbed on 46. Čustović), Perić, Filipović (subbed on 60. Stevanović), Cvijanović – Frigan (subbed on 60. Kučiš), Kavelj – Pranjić (subbed on 84. Vrzić), Pavičić, Bogojević – Mijić (subbed on 60. Gashi)

Another slow opening 10 or so minutes, but Slaven had the first threat as Leon Bošnjak’s attempt from the top of the box went just wide. And just a few minutes later, in the 18th minute, Josip Mitrović gave the lead to the ‘Farmaceuti’ with a beautiful curling goal from the right-hand side. It didn’t take long for the 2nd goal to come, as Bosak fought off Frigan as he entered the box and left the ball for Nestorovski, who beat Matijaš.

Mario Carević then lost his mind on the sideline because he thought Frigan was fouled by Bosak in the fight for the ball, and the Gorica manager received a straight red card from the referee, Mateo Erceg. Carević admitted after the match that his anger was unfounded and said there was no foul there after rewatching the replay.

Gorica had some chances in the 2nd half; the only one worth mentioning is that Bruno Bogojević had a good shot redirected by a block from a Slaven defender, and Sentić made a good save to keep the ball out in the 79th. Marko Dabro hit the post as he tried to make it 3-0 just moments later. And that’s it. Slaven won their first game and now have three points on the board, while Gorica are left at the bottom of the league table as the only side without a single point so far.

A moment of brilliance from Josip Mitrović turned the game, and the killer instinct of the legendary Macedonian striker showed once again. And those individual moments are really the only thing that Slaven have shown so far this season, but it’s got them the win and could build on it. Especially Mitrović, who could be very dangerous if he gets into form.

Dinamo 3-1 Varaždin: Beljo Show (Again)

Dinamo (4-3-3): Nevistić – Tabinas (subbed on 56. Valinčić), Galešić, Radeljić, Goda (subbed on 56. Perez Vinlöf) – Zajc (subbed on 72. Mudražija), Mišić, Kačavenda – Lisica (subbed on 81. Topić), Beljo, Hoxha (subbed on 72. Oršić).

Varaždin (4-2-3-1): Silić – Maglica, Mladenovski, Tepšić, Sikošek – Canjuga, Marina (subbed on 60. Duvnjak) – Latković (subbed on 80. Jurić), Mamić (subbed on 72. Puclin), Tavares (subbed on 72. Uchegbu) – Mamut (subbed on 60. Vuk)

Both teams had chances in the opening minutes of the affair; Mamut forced Nevistić into a save early on. Dinamo’s Zajc had a go around the 10th minute, but Silić saved it. The opening goal came from Varaždin as Ivan Canjuga swung in a corner and Mario Mladenovski leapt the highest and scored. Now he’s scored against Hajduk and Dinamo; the Macedonian centre-back loves these big games.

Varaždin continued piling on the pressure but couldn’t get that last pass or shot to go their way to double their lead before the half-time whistle. Then Beljo. Vinlöf crossed the ball in from the left wing; Beljo had Tepšić on his back and kept him there as he shifted his body and scored his 5th HNL goal this season. Just 10 minutes later, Beljo picked up the ball after a corner on the right byline, saw Galešić in the middle of the box and found him with a pass. The Dinamo defender scored a brilliant goal with a backheel through the legs of Luka Mamić.

Dinamo continued searching for a third, and Robert Mudražija found it right at the end of the game as his shot slowly trickled in front of Mislav Oršić, who made sure the ball went in. And Oršić easily could’ve tapped it in for his first goal back in a Dinamo shirt, but he let Mudražija have his first-ever Dinamo goal, which showed what it meant to him in his celebration.

Varaždin were close and could’ve got more from this game had they taken advantage of Dinamo’s poor performance in the first half, but they weren’t able to and kept Dinamo in the game, who took full advantage of that. Still, a good performance from Varaždin, who can definitely fight for something more this season if they continue on this path.

Dinamo prepare now for the tough away day in Norway for the 2nd leg of the UCL play-off. Big task ahead of Kovačević, for whom this is probably the biggest game in his managerial career so far.

Rijeka 3-2 Istra 1961: Rijeka Survive Late Pressure From Istra

Rijeka (4-2-3-1): Todorović – Oreč, Husić (subbed on 72. Barco), Majstorović, Lasickas – Ćubelić (subbed on 60. Gojak), Dantas – Vignato (subbed on 60. Pavić), Fruk, Janković (subbed on 84. Devetak) – Puljić (subbed on 72. Adu-Adjei).

Istra 1961: Kolić – Kadušić (subbed on 61. Hrvatin), Nasraoui, Kumar, Šepić – Doumbia (subbed on 61. Albarracin), Maurić (subbed on 72. Ahmeti) – Frederiksen, Šaranić (subbed on 78. Kablar), Škafar Žužić (subbed on 61. Rozić) – Jaganjac.

Rijeka started this game well, and it paid off in the 18th minute as Justas Lasickas sent in a cross that was redirected into the goal by Istra’s own Mohamed Nasraoui for 1-0. Rijeka didn’t let Istra create much and kept them pegged back for the entirety of the first half, and right before the end of the first 45, the hosts got a penalty due to a handball. Puljić’s penalty attempt was saved by Kolić; unfortunately for the Istra goalkeeper, the ball bounced right back to the striker, who made up for his miss and made it 2-0.

Then, just minutes into the 2nd half, Toni Fruk scored a beauty with his weaker left foot outside of the box. And I, like many others, thought that was it for the game. But Kek’s side started faltering, and it eventually cost them, as Niko Janković gifted a goal to Hamza Jaganjac with a poor pass back under pressure. Istra continued pressing and pressing, but they were unable to get a 2nd in time. Frederiksen did get that goal; it was too late, as he scored with mere seconds left to go.

Kek was furious during those final 20 minutes with his side and made it clear after the match in the press conference: “We threw Istra into despair, and instead of making it 4-0, we conceded to make it 3-1. I don’t like it when a player comes on and plays for himself instead of for the team, which will then get him opportunities. Some will obviously have to go through a little more schooling to understand how football is played. What happened in the last 15 minutes is unacceptable.”

Istra were underwhelming and unable to do anything throughout the match until Rijeka let their guard down. Their midfield just couldn’t compete with Rijeka’s and were unable to get the ball forward when given the chance.

Hajduk 4-0 Osijek: Hajduk’s B Team Beats Osijek

Hajduk (4-2-3-1): Silić – Hodak (subbed on 72. Hrgović), Gabrić, Van Hoorenbeeck, Melnjak – Del Moral, Pajaziti – Šutalo (subbed on 72. Dalisson), Brruti (subbed on 64. Šotiček), Huram (subbed on 64. Bamba) – Livaja (subbed on 64. Šego).

Osijek (4-1-3-2): Malenica – Mustafić, Kolarik, Jelenić, Jurišić – Vrbančić – Bukvić (subbed on 46. Dolček), Mikolčić (subbed on 46. Petrusenko), Omerović (subbed on 62. Ljatifi) – Jakupović (subbed on 36. Heister), Leon (subbed on 73. Balelo).

A brilliant game by Hajduk, well prepared by Garcia. Everything just went right for the home side, whilst everything went wrong for Osijek. Hajduk opened the scoring fast, in the 9th minute. Huram sent in a cross, which Melnjak slightly redirected off the first post into the middle for a wide-open Etnik Brruti, who scored on his HNL debut.

Then Osijek almost hit back in the 20th minute as Hajduk were caught out on transition and the away side had a 3-on-2 attack. Bukvić played through Omerović, who was unmarked in the box, but Toni Silić came up big to shut up the critics who have risen up in the last few games. 11 minutes later, Livaja’s pass for Huram was inaccurate and caught by Senad Mustafić, but the BiH right-back wrongly controlled the ball; Huram took it and was through on goal. Mustafić reacted by pulling down the 17-year-old Hajduk winger. After a VAR review, the referee sent off the right-back, and the game was firmly in Hajduk’s control after that.

Garcia’s side was unable to add to their lead in the first half, but in the second half Marko Livaja made it 2-0 after a Huram assist, who had a brilliant game overall. That goal was Livaja’s 107th for Hajduk, which tied him with club legend Bernard Vukas in 7th place of Hajduk’s all-time top goalscorers.

Then Bamba was brought on and immediately started causing problems for the Osijek defence with his pace and eventually scored an amazing goal in the 83rd for 3-0. The final goal was scored by Šimun Hrgović, who was moved to right-back after Luka Hodak was unable to continue. That was Hrgović’s first goal for Hajduk as well. All those games under Gattuso on the right side, and no goals. Now, the first time under Garcia, and he gets a goal.

Overall, it was a good game by Hajduk, especially after taking into account that Garcia made 9 changes to the starting XI from the first leg vs. Raków, which I’ll talk about tomorrow in a sort of preview for the 2nd leg and overall what qualifying for the Conference League would mean to Hajduk.

Osijek were able to create one good chance from transitions before the red card, but Hajduk’s game plan left them without many ideas. Hajduk used Livaja and the wide players as magnets to pull the centre-backs out of their positions, because Osijek likes to press high, immediately closing down anybody who’s on the ball, leaving a lot of space behind, which Hajduk then exploited; that’s why Huram, for example, had a great game, and why Mustafić got sent off.

Another great weekend of football in the HNL, capped by the big surprise of Rudeš winning their first game. Next weekend’s round 5 looks like this:

Saturday: Istra 1961 – Dinamo / Varaždin – Rudeš

Sunday: Osijek – Slaven Belupo

Monday: Hajduk – Lokomotiva / Gorica – Rijeka

Hajduk and Rijeka were moved to Monday to give them an extra day of rest after finishing up their European qualifying campaigns, which hopefully leads to at least one of them in the Conference League proper.