MARKUS’ TAKE
HAJDUK
After a good end to the season last year, Hajduk managed a 4th place finish, one point below Rijeka. This year they compete for a spot in the Europa Conference League group stage with a relatively easy draw. Expect to see some European football, Hajduk fans! This squad is the most exciting the Bili have seen in years, however, there are some improvements that need to be made before they can be crowned Croatian champions. With a new sporting director and manager, Hajduk is headed in the right direction for the first time in what seems like forever. Livaja, Krovinović, Vuković, Elez, Mlakar, Lovrencsics and Sahiti are quality additions to improve this side. Young guns Biuk, Ljubičić, Ćubelić and Vušković bring enormous talent as well. Finishing outside the top three would be disappointing for a squad with this amount of talent.
Players to watch:
Marin Ljubičić (19)
Filip Krovinović (25)
Ivan Ćubelić (18)
Breakout player:
Stipe Biuk (18)
Lokomotiva Zagreb
The Lokosi almost slipped out of the first division last year, but they are back and stronger this season. Some good signings in 2. HNL were top scorer Marko Dabro and solid defender Nikola Soldo, who will help this team continue to improve. Lots of players have also moved on, which can be good in helping Lokomotiva create a new identity. Holding Hajduk to a 2-2 draw is a result they can be proud of, and they have most recently defeated Slaven Belupo by the score of 2-1. Promising results for a promising team.
Players to watch:
Marko Dabro (24)
Luka Stojković (17)
Nikola Soldo (20)
Breakout player:
Lukas Kačavenda (18)
Šibenik
Šibenik lost a ton of key players, which will hurt them a lot this year. Captain Marko Bulat and Emir Sahiti, two of their key players have departed from the club. Goalkeeper Nediljko Labrović has moved to Rijeka. Expect Šibenik to be much weaker as these key pieces have not really been replaced. Antonio Marin is one to watch as he joins on loan, and it is yet to see if the young winger can get his career back on track. Šibenik have been outclassed in both of their first two games by Osijek and Gorica. Australian Deni Jurić is one of the only bright spots to this roster, providing them with a bit of an attacking punch to watch out for.
Players to watch:
Niko Rak (17)
Antonio Marin (20)
Edin Julardžija (20)
Breakout player:
Deni Jurić (23)
Gorica
Gorica lost some players in the off season but have done decently well to replace them. They can compete with the top of the table, and in order for this season to be considered successful, they must play spoiler to the big 4. Finishing above any one of them (Dinamo, Hajduk, Rijeka, Osijek) should be considered a good result. Kotarski joins from Ajax, who has yet to prove his worth as a top young goalkeeper. Lovrić is closer and closer to a move, which could be the decider for Gorica’s fate in the league this season. Youngster Josip Mitrović is set for a breakout season after displaying his talent last year on a team stacked in the winger department (Lovrić, Špikić, etc).
Players to watch:
Dominik Kotarski (21)
Hrvoje Babec (21)
Kristijan Lovrić (25)
Breakout player:
Josip Mitrović (21)
Hrvatski Dragovoljac
After being promoted by the skin of their teeth, Dragovoljac have been shown what it’s like to run with the big boys. A dominant Istra performance sunk them in match day 1, followed by absolute dominance from Dinamo and that Lovro Majer masterclass in match day 2. They obviously have lots of things to change in order to stay up, which seems to be their only goal now. There are some bright spots however. Their only goal scorer to date, Mario Veljača, seems to be quite the promising talent. He was banging in goals for fun with Solin in the 2. HNL before Dragovoljac picked him up. He’s an interesting striker talent to keep your eyes on. A few young loanees were scooped up by Hrvatski Dragovoljac, all who have yet to take the next step in their careers. This season will be their chance to prove themselves.
Players to watch:
Tonio Teklić (21)
Dino Skorup (21)
Tin Hrvoj (20)
Breakout player:
Mario Veljača (19)
League Table Prediction:
1. GNK Dinamo Zagreb
2. NK Osijek
3. HNK Hajduk Split
4. HNK Rijeka
5. HNK Gorica
6. NK Lokomotiva Zagreb
7. NK Slaven Belupo
8. NK Istra 1961
9. HNK Šibenik
10. NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac
Individual awards (assuming no transfers):
Best player: Lovro Majer
Top scorer: Ramón Mierez
Best keeper: Nediljko Labrović
CROATIAU14’S TAKE
Dinamo Zagreb
After a remarkable and historic 2020-2021 season, Dinamo Zagreb will be looking to win another Prva Liga title this season – but potentially with a whole new squad. Lovro Majer, Luka Ivanušec, Mislav Oršić, Dominik Livaković, Lirim Kastrati, Bruno Petković, and many other key players are rumored to leave the club by the end of August. Big clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Marseille, and Frankfurt are in discussions with Dinamo, meaning the Modri will definitely make quite a lot of cash this summer. Dinamo’s talent will obviously still be there, but can the team’s chemistry even compete with last season’s? After winning the Croatian Cup, the Prva Liga, and beating Tottenham 3-2 to make it to the Europa League quarterfinals, Dinamo have set themselves a high bar going into the 2021-2022 season. I predict another league trophy in Dinamo’s hands by the end of the season.
Players to Watch:
Josip Šutalo (21)
Marko Bulat (19)
Dario Špikić (22)
Breakout Player:
Kristijan Jakić (24)
Osijek
If you’re an Osijek supporter, you’re probably very hopeful going into the 2021-2022 season. With Nenad Bjelica in charge and loads of talent in the squad, Osijek is definitely Dinamo’s top contender for the league title this season. With Ante Erceg, Ramón Mierez, and ex-Vatreni role player Ivan Santini as members of Osijek’s front line, this side could even be dangerous in European competition. Osijek also has many talents on the wing such as Šime Gržan and Petar Bočkaj, supported by László Kleinheisler in the midfield, Hungary’s man of the match in their 1-1 tie against France this summer. Social media legend and Croatian international Mile Škorić leads the squad’s defense, offering lots of experience and skill the the back line. Although Osijek look very good going into the season, I don’t see them beating Dinamo to the title. I predict Osijek to finish second.
Players to Watch:
Šime Gržan (27)
Ivan Fiolić (25)
Darko Nejašmić (22)
Breakout Player:
Mihael Žaper (22)
Rijeka
Coming off a Prva Liga title just a few years back, some expected Rijeka to become another super-club in Croatia, overtaking Hajduk Split for that second spot in the heart of the nation. With fantastic talent, money, and good leadership, Rijeka had been aiming for a first or second place finish in the Prva Liga the past few years. After finishing behind the likes of Osijek and Lokomotiva Zagreb, it is clear that the club must respond to their wake up call – and that can start with transfers. While Osijek, Dinamo, and Hajduk are doing very well bringing in players of high caliber, Rijeka has struggled to find even one transfer that could lift the squad up a couple spots in the table, while Osijek signed Ramón Mierez and Ivan Santini, Hajduk sign Marko Livaja, and Dinamo continues to bring in skilled veterans such as Duje Čop and Josip Mišić. Rijeka continues to rely on players such as Robert Murić, Nino Galović, and Domagoj Pavičić to lead them to glory, but these players are always one level behind the rest of the league’s stars. I don’t see Rijeka challenging for the title this year.
Players to Watch:
Robert Murić (25)
Denis Busnja (21)
Ivan Lepinjica (22)
Breakout Player:
Matej Vuk (21)
Slaven Belupo
Oh man, I’ve been waiting to write about Slaven for a long time. Although Slaven Belupo’s squad does not present many notable names, this team knows how to win big. Slaven have produced a squad with a very good mix of young and old (even the National Team struggled with this), building a very competitive Prva Liga side. They are my dark horse for the 2021-2022 Prva Liga season, and here’s why. First, let’s talk about 16 year-old Lovro Zvonarek. Lovro became the Prva Liga’s youngest goal-scorer last season in the final round of the league, sending Varaždin to the Druga Liga and leading Slaven to a 1-0 victory. The young winger was almost picked up by Bayern Munich at the age of 15, but Zvonarek maturely decided to continue his career in Croatia. So far, he has already started every game for Slaven this season, and is projected to become a star for the Vatreni one day. Ivan Krstanović is another player that can cause some problems to a back line. Although he is 38 years-old, he is still consistently scoring for Croatia’s top flight and a perfect target man for the squad. Mario Marina was brought in by Slaven this summer, and can be one of the league’s best defensive midfielders. I think Slaven Belupo will shock the nation this season and finish quite high in the table.
Players to Watch:
Ivan Krstanović (38)
Bruno Bogojević (23)
Bruno Goda (23)
Breakout Player:
Lovro Zvonarek (16)
Istra
Although I don’t think Istra will be relegated this season, I don’t see them doing anything special either. After losing their three star players Taichi Hara, Matej Vuk, and Šime Gržan, Istra has not done enough in the offseason to make up for those losses. Istra surprised the nation last season by making it to the cup final, where they lost 6-3 to Dinamo in one of the most exciting matches of the season – and they wouldn’t have came even close to silver without those three players. Although Prva Liga regulars such as Antonio Ivančić and Petar Bosančić are expected to lead the side, I don’t think Istra has it in them for a good run this season.
Players to Watch:
Mauro Perković (18)
Mateo Lisica (18)
Miroslav Iličić (23)
Breakout Player:
Dion Drena Beljo (19)
League Table Prediction:
1. GNK Dinamo Zagreb
2. NK Osijek
3. HNK Hajduk Split
4. HNK Rijeka
5. NK Slaven Belupo
6. NK Lokomotiva Zagreb
7. HNK Gorica
8. HNK Šibenik
9. NK Istra 1961
10. NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac
Individual Awards:
Best Player: Marko Livaja
Top Scorer: Ramón Mierez
Best Keeper: Nedilijko Labrović
@Keep it Real
Got ya talking, that’s my job 😉
Wow, this is terrible. Whoever did the write-up for Osijek obviously doesn’t have a clue about the team. Santini is not on the team. The team had a ceremony for the players they weren’t going to re-sign at the end of last season and Santini was one of them. I also don’t see the reason for highlighting Ante Erceg as an attacker as he has trouble getting playing time with the likes of Mierez, Mance and Bohar playing the same or similar positions. Osijek started the last season with one point in their first three games while Dinamo got nine. That put them back eight points after three games (coaching change) and they finished the season eight points behind Dinamo for the title. That’s the difference Bjelica makes. They may not get the title but that is the main goal that has been stated repeatedly. Bjelica is going nowhere. He has stated over and over that he will respect his three year contract. I only worry that they go far in Europe causing their results in the HNL to suffer.
@CroatiaU14
Are you a Slaven Belupo fan? 25 points off 5th place (Gorica) last season.
Your write up on them is not great by any means and leaves me thinking you’re only excited about them because they have that 16yr old kid, and you clearly get excited about the kids. I can’t believe you were waiting so long to write about them and that’s what you came up with, come clean, how many Slaven games have you ever watched?
@Markus did Gorica and he thinks they’ve done decently well to replace some of the departed players, and has them still finishing 5th. You have them dropping off big time, may I ask you why?
Can’t wait to find out who knows what they’re talking about. My money is on the Frenchman.
CroatiaU14 is a Dinamo fan. Also, if that’s your only reason for thinking he has Slaven doing well that is very stupid. Every single team has a very exciting player, why specifically Slaven? Nice try troll.
As for me, as well as Gorica have done, they are not any stronger than they were last year and Rijeka, Osijek, Hajduk have only gotten stronger. I think my take is reasonable. This is an article for predicting the table, if you don’t like it why don’t you write one and send it to us?
@Markus
Since you want to speak for @CroatiaU14 then ok, 38yr old Krstanovic was already there, and other than the kid the only other player he mentions is a 31yr old Marina, so what have I missed? Something bigger than that must’ve happened for them to make up 25pts on a team (Gorica) you still have finishing 5th?
You yourself (claim to watch a lot of the HNL) have Slaven finishing 7th again (so why you got your panties in a bunch calling me a troll?). So you tell me, why does @CroatiaU14 have Slaven finishing 5th this season and you haven’t?
This is where I come for my HNL info and I just feel short changed and somewhat insulted.
Because we have different opinions and different views on the game. You’re trying to make football seem logical when it isn’t! Who knows why some teams finish very low one year and almost top of the table the next, sports are unpredictable. This was merely a prediction and the fact it insults you is just stupid. Not everyone will have the same opinion as you, and that doesn’t make them wrong. Grow up.
@Markus
“Also, if that’s your only reason for thinking he has Slaven doing well that is very stupid.”
But there is a reason @CroatiaU14 predicts Slaven to end up 5th and I just want you tell me what it is, if it’s too much to ask, or you don’t know, then just say it, I can tell you to shut the f**k up then, and we move on.
Well then ask him. I don’t know what to tell you, I made my predictions and explained them and that’s the extent I can go to explaining it for you. Have a nice day.
Gold! Sinkovic brothers. Wasn’t in doubt.
Sucic with a nice Modricesque outside of the foot assist today. It was only an exhibition match, but Grbic also got a few minutes for Atletico. Brozovic with a goal an assist today. It looks like he shaved his head.
I knew it was a matter of time before that guy did a Brittney Spears.
Pjaca going on loan to Torino.
This is a good move for him, since our boy Ivan Jurić is the coach.
If he can’t succeed here, then he needs to just go back to the HNL.
That’s a good move for Pjaca, but also good move for Jurić. I didn’t realize that he moved up to Torino from Verona. Everyone was praising his results at such a small budget club. If he continues his success, maybe we’ll finally get a world class Croatian coach one day.
Actually…scratch that last comment. I just looked up the Serie A table…i didn’t realize that Torino did so terribly. They were just above relegation at 17th place, whereas Hellas Verona were a respectable 10th. I guess Juric was signed to try and turn things around?
Sinkovic brothers just toying with the opposition in the semifinal right now. So relaxed.
We should get at least a couple of medals in rowing and sailing.
Lazio trying to get Brekalo from Wolfsburg.
He needs a change of scenery.
Luka scores for dinamo !!!
Ok who the hell is this Luka ??
Says he is Bosnian footballer born in split
Is it ok to cheer for Hajduk and Dinamo?
I’m a Dinamo fan but I always cheer for Hajduk in European games. I don’t get the people who don’t. You’re telling me you won’t cheer for a Croatian team against some English/Spanish/whatever other country team?? I always found that dumb. Within the league however, it’s pretty forbidden 😂
I think its different for everyone. You have a lot of Dinamo and Hajduk fans (especially in the domovina) who will never support the other team, no matter the nature of the match. Then you have a lot of moderate folks (like yourself, me included) who will support the other team for a European game.
But yes, domestically you can’t be a Dinamo AND Hajduk supporter. That’s like being a Yankees AND Red Sox fan here in the US. It’s just not allowed, like two seperate religions 😀
Also, if all HNL clubs do well in European competition, it raises our league coefficient which is always good.
Well…it’s mainly because we are all diaspora Croats.
So, in football we prioritize Croatia first, and the clubs second.
It makes sense for some die hard Torcidasi or BBB guys to cheer against their rivals, because they live in Croatia and they grew up in that environment where they are rivals in the sport.
It’s the same with NBA, MLB, NHL teams here.
I doubt that Celtic fans would cheer for the Knicks, Nets or Lakers if they were playing some foreign club in Europe. Most would take pleasure in their losses.
I think casual fans in Split or Zagreb would probably cheer for all “Croatian clubs” in the same way us diaspora cheer for them…but the die hard Dinamo or Hajduk fans would generally lean toward their rivalry taking precedence over the fact that their rival is representing Croatia in a European competition.
I also always find it funny when a lot of my Dinamo or Hajduk diaspora friends ‘pretend’ to be so die-hard that they claim they cheer against the other, even in the other team’s UEFA competitions.
But they’re just posers who are trying too hard to be like local Croats.
We didn’t grow up in Zagreb or Split where the local clubs are engrained in the culture of the city. We grew up with Croatia being our #1. These HNL clubs take a back seat to that.
Spot on. I think you do have some Torcidasi here in North America who try and play the role where they are super die hards. Yes, you’re a hardcore Torcidas in mama’s basement in NYC with your dial-up internet connection. Stop.
Stipe Biuk with his aggressive dynamic play has me once again praying for the next Alen Bokšić.
We need that dude that puts fear in the back line.
Hajduk needs to focus on the talent of Split and cease bringing in international bums.
Great piece to read.
Hvala! Fantastic work!!!!
@Poglavnik
Orsic to Arsenal looks somewhat on. I’d split it in thirds – 1/3 chance he stays at Arsenal, 1/3 chance he goes to Borussia, 1/3 chance he stays at Dinamo
As a Gunners fan that would be awesome!
Nice read!
Which Dinamo player is Arsenal looking at?
Orsic to my knowledge…could be wrong
Wow! Solid piece, boys! I think if Dinamo dumps 2-3 key players in the next month and Hajduk, Osijek play premium football, we will have the best HNL finish this century. Just my 2 cents.
What does Colin have to say? Looks like his HNL job here is in jeopardy! 🙂
I think that is a legit possibility. Dinamo still have a lot of depth, but if they let go of say Livakovic, Majer and Ivanusec during the winter break and are still playing in Europe come the spring, do they have the bandwidth to still win the league with new guys joining the starting XI and get some good results in Europe?
I think this is Osijek’s season to “go for it”. Between that happening to Dinamo potentially, all of Osijek’s good players in their primes and Bjelica probably having another 1-2 years before he heads for greener pastures, I think this is Osijek’s year to finally bring the title home to Slavonia.
Maybe we see a table like this at the end of the year:
1. Osijek
2. Dinamo
3. Rijeka
4. Hajduk