Written By: Andrew R
For the first time since Week 2, we had a full 5-match weekend of HNL action, with Dinamo returning against top-4 competitor Rijeka. With all HNL clubs in action, the table is shaping up nicely to who with be a contender versus pretender this campaign. Hajduk Split is still “top dog” in Croatia with a perfect record.
Dinamo vs Rijeka (2-1)
Dinamo faced their second top-4 side this season, Rijeka, after losing to Hajduk in their opener in July. Jakirović had the spotlight on him as he faced off against the club he left just one week ago. While the scoreline was only a 2-1 win for Dinamo, their performance on the pitch was far more dominant than the score leads you to believe. Dinamo had 70% of the possession in the match while also having 15 shots. Marko Bulat, who was an excellent talent for Šibenik a couple seasons ago, is slowly starting to get minutes and influence in his matches. He also scored the opener for Dinamo after relentless pressure in the 1st half. Petković did score a penalty to make the match 2-0 briefly before Marco Pašalić cut the deficit in half. Rijeka fans, who had high hopes going into this season, may start to be slightly worried as they sit 0-2 against other top-4 teams. With Osijek coming up soon, only time will tell how Rijeka seem to shake out against their fellow competitors for Europe.
Varaždin vs Hajduk (1-2)
Nothing much to add this week regarding Hajduk as the status quo remains with their 100% HNL record. Despite a late winner from Leon Dajaku, Hajduk continued to look lethal in front of goal. The scoreline was close to being 3-1 but Dolček’s had a goal called back for offside. Varaždin’s most lethal attackers, Fran Brodić and Michele Šego, were held off by Hajduk’s back line. However, Leon Belcar was able to level the game at the half for Varaždin keeping them in the fight. Overall, Krovinović and Dajaku were the stars of the show for Hajduk proving just how much quality in depth Hajduk have at their disposal this season.
Gorica vs Slaven Belupo (2-2)
Gorica hosted Slaven this week in a chance for a bounce back after their first loss of the season to Osijek. Gorica found themselves with yet another draw this season after a 2-2 finish with Slaven. On the brightside, Merveil Ndockyt netted two goals for Gorica, his second goal gave Gorica the lead but only lasted for three minutes. Benedikt Mioč found the leveler right after to give Slaven hope. Gorica did well defensively to hold off Slaven star man Ante Crnac, keeping him at both a 50% pass and dribble success rate.
Lokomotiva vs Osijek (2-2)
While the talk of the season is just how impressive Osijek is on the attack, yet again their weakness remains on the defensive side of the ball. The game in Zagreb was surely a fight as all across the match both teams had their moments to shine. While Caktaš scored the opener for Osijek and continued to build his tally this season, Vladan Bubanja had other ideas for how this match would unfold after netting the leveler. Both teams continued to battle back and forth until Vedran Jugović scored in the 90+3 minute in what seemed a certain winner for the Bijelo Plavi…or was it? Sandro Kulenović scored a shocker to level the game back up and steal points at home for the Lokosi. With Lokomotiva sitting in 9th, the draw on Saturday was much needed for Lokomotiva as they struggle to find their footing in the HNL this season.
Istra 1961 vs Rudeš (0-0)
Robert Prosinečki can celebrate this week as Rudeš finally recorded their first point of the season. Overall the match was a game of goalkeeping as both Lovro Majkić and Karlo Kralj were crucial for both sides staying alive in the match. Between the two players, they had 11 saves with four of them coming from inside the box. Youth talent Riad Mašala was very active for Rudeš in their match on Sunday. Mašala boasted an 82% success rate in passing and won 100% of his ground duels while also having two tackles as a midfielder. Mašala had six goals last season in the HNL Juniori with the Rudeš U-19 side.
Excited for Gabriel Vidovic
Could spring board him into Repka
Does anyone know if he’s committed to Repka forsure or still debating between Germany 🇩🇪 too ??
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwkgpG0oxbd/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Agreed. This is a good move.
Vidovic has been playing for Croatia’s youth at all age levels (from U17 to U21) despite being good enough to play for Germany’s youth.
His family are very die-hard Croats from Kiseljak (in the center of Bosna) and those Croats are pretty hardcore considering where they are situated.
Vidovic also very likely pushed for a loan move to Dinamo as well.
If Vidovic were called up by Germany tomorrow, he would decline. Borna Sosa is more German than Vidovic could ever be, ha ha.
Hopefully he can show good in Dinamo
and Dalic can cap him
Great move for Vidovic and ultimately his chance to play for the repka sooner. He’ll get lots of time for Dinamo & hopefully he makes the most of it.
Lol about Sosa being German…one of my favorite all
time lines is when a fan said (after he committed to Germany) Sosa will be a tourist when he comes back to Croatia.
Calling Sosa ‘the tourist’ would be a great nickname considering his play with his…comes and goes.
Autokamp Sosa
ACL now stands for A CROATIAN LOSS…even if they do come back physically it’s the mental aspect that’s just as important.
The slightest bit of hesitancy in ones play and a player is done if it happens on a consistent basis.
I’m really stretching here but I’m wondering if changes with cleats might have something to do with this… as already mentioned it never seemed to happen say in the 80’s or 90’s?
This sport has a worst record than American Horse racing, when it comes to leg injuries, especially for Croatia. Did not seem as common in the past as recent.
Really bad break for both of these kids. Dinamo snake bitten.
I’m hoping Sucic can recover as I don’t think his was an ACL. Sadly,
these kids won’t be the same players. Hoping they can at least carve out a Krovinovic type of career.
I read that ACL is a harder / longer injury to recover from; furthermore, that 65% of athletes return to play at the same pre injury level.
Not sure if that means that they are just as effective, or that they just play in the same league /at the same level?
For example, if you were a top 10 goal scorer in the EPL, got injured, had surgery, returned to play in the EPL, and now are a top 50 goalscorer, it’s not the same in my mind. However, doctors could argue that it was a 100 % successful surgery / recovery, and that “the athlete is at the same pre injury level”.
None of Moro, Pjaca, Krovinović, or Kačavenda played at the same level when they came back from their surgeries.
So we’re 0 for 4 with our youngsters.
Hopefully it’s different with Sučić (since he was the biggest prospect out of all these guys), but it’s already been six months and no update on when he will return.
Knee injuries seem to be happening a lot more in recent times than let’s say 20, 30 years ago. It cannot be just bad luck or coincidence, it is most likely due to more matches, increased pace of the game, training methods and playing and training on artificial pitches to name a few contributing factors.
I agree MART. These acl injuries just seem to be occurring way to frequently.
I believe the biggest issue might be training methods.
Some of these guys look like bodybuilders . Our Gvardiol looks like a linebacker.
Might be the extra weight these guys are carrying or what, but, it has to be something.
I was looking at some of out players from 20 years ago or so, they were skinny compared to today’s guys. I dunno
I blame Dutch Total Football
From what I read from the Salzburg team doctor report the surgery was on his meniscus. Originally the prognosis was 2-3 months but red Bull has been very cautious with him. Good chance Sucic will be back in early September.
Hopefully you’re right.
Salzburg were just about to sell him before this happened, so they’re probably playing it as safe as possible to ensure he can put in a decent comeback season to ensure that they can get the 20 million Euros they planned on selling him for.
It would be a disaster if he came back too early, then had to sit out for a period of time due to aggrevating or reinjuring the knee. His value would plummet.
Kacevenda with 2nd knee surgery…
His career is probably done now 🙁
Hajduk is looking good and should have won more convincingly against Varazdin. This could be the year that they dethrone Dinamo.
Bruno Petkovic for Dinamo has been in great form domestically and in Europe.
To me he looks fit and is playing at the same level as 4 years ago when he and Vlasic were among our best players in the qualifying matches for EURO 2020.
If I was Dalic he would be starting against Latvia and Armenia in September.
On a sad note, looks like Luka Stojkovic has done his knee ligaments if we are to believe media reports? he only joined Dinamo from Lokomotiva a week or two ago. I have watched him a lot for our U17 and U19 youth teams where he stood out as a very promising youngster. Left footer, plays on the left wing, is quick and has a good shot on him. Such a shame, knee injuries for young players in particular can curtail their development and playing careers. I just hope that he makes a full recovery.
What a disaster the last few years have been for us in terms of losing elite young talent to knee injuries.
Luka Sucic, Lukas Kacavenda, and now this Stojkovic kid…all in the past year.
Add in Add Marko Pjaca, Filip Krovinovic, and Nikola Moro in the recent past who never recovered and became a shell of their former selves.
Insane that a country of 3.8 million can regularly lose talent like this, then just churn out a Martin Baturina or a Marko Bulat to replace them a few months later.