Last season was a great one for the HNL. We saw Hajduk, for the first time in half a decade, put pressure atop the Croatian table. Osijek continued to impress as a top-three club under Bjelica’s management. But in the end, mighty Dinamo clinched yet another HNL championship. But what was different this time around is that Croatians around the globe got to witness an exciting season, where parity ruled, instead of a runaway Dinamo train.
2022/23 can be even BETTER. Hajduk Split have arguably as strong a starting eleven as Dinamo Zagreb with a prolific scorer in Marko Livaja, a rock solid defence, an in-form Lovre Kalinić and Filip Krovinović pulling the strings in midfield, looking like his pre-injury self. However Dinamo too have a squad loaded with talent, but they just need to find a formation that works for them. Ante Čačić has struggled to field an XI that we’ve seen truly mesh. On the bright side, new additions Boško Šutalo, Josip Drmić, Robert Ljubičić and Petar Bočkaj have been excellent so far, as well as the new number 10, wonderkid Martin Baturina proving he is one of the most talented youngsters in Europe. However, the two big red flags in unorganized tactics and questionable goaltending may just give Hajduk enough room to possibly finish as champions for the first time in 18 years.
Markus’ HNL Predictions
- Dinamo Zagreb 76pts
- Hajduk Split 74pts
- Osijek 63pts
- Lokomotiva Zagreb 60pts
- Rijeka 59pts
- Varaždin 49pts
- Gorica 47pts
- Slaven Belupo 39pts
- Šibenik 35pts
- Istra 28pts
League MVP: Marko Livaja
Top scorer: Dion Drena Beljo
Best midfielder: Arijan Ademi
Best defender: Josip Šutalo
Best goalkeeper: Lovre Kalinić
U21 MVP: Martin Baturina
One player to watch out for on every team:
Dinamo: Martin Baturina
Hajduk: Stipe Biuk
Osijek: Dion Drena Beljo
Lokomotiva: Luka Stojković
Rijeka: Nediljko Labrović
Varaždin: Tonio Teklić
Gorica: Toni Fruk
Slaven Belupo: Ante Crnac
Šibenik: Karlo Špeljak
Istra: Bartol Barišić
CroatiaU14’s HNL Predictions
- Hajduk Split 81pts
- Dinamo Zagreb 80pts
- Osijek 68pts
- Lokomotiva Zagreb 61pts
- Rijeka 58pts
- Varaždin 44pts
- Šibenik 38pts
- Slaven Belupo 31pts
- Gorica 29pts
- Istra 21pts
League MVP: Marko Livaja
Top scorer: Josip Drmić
Best midfielder: Filip Krovinović
Best defender: Toni Borevković
Best goalkeeper: Ivica Ivušić
U21 MVP: Martin Baturina
One player to watch out for on every team:
Dinamo: Martin Baturina
Hajduk: Emir Sahiti
Osijek: Dion Drena Beljo
Lokomotiva: Jakov-Anton Vasilj
Rijeka: Matija Frigan
Varazdin: Igor Postonjski
Sibenik: Niko Rak
Slaven Belupo: Novak Tepsić
Gorica: Krešimir Krizmanić
Istra: Tomislav Duvnjak
Graninho’s HNL Predictions
- Hajduk Split 80pts
- Dinamo Zagreb 76pts
- Osijek 60pts
- Rijeka 60pts
- Lokomotiva Zagreb 53pts
- Gorica 47pts
- Varaždin 40pts
- Slaven Belupo 35pts
- Šibenik 30pts
- Istra 25pts
League MVP: Marko Livaja
Top scorer: Marko Livaja
Best midfielder: Filip Krovinović
Best defender: Josip Šutalo
Best goalkeeper: Lovre Kalinić
U21 MVP: Martin Baturina
One player to watch out for on every team:
Hajduk: David Ćolina
Dinamo: Robert Ljubičić
Varazdin: Tonio Teklić
Rijeka: Lindon Selahi
Osijek: Dion Drena Beljo
Istra: Tomislav Duvnjak
Sibenik: Leon Kreković
Lokomotiva: Luka Stojković
Gorica: N/A
Slaven Belupo: N/A
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What is your top 4 for this season and who do you think will claim league MVP and U21 league MVP? Let us know in the comments below!
Ivo Grbić played the full 90 minutes for Atletico vs Juventus in their 4:0 friendly win. Is this the beginning of a comeback?
https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/nogomet/intervju-ive-grbica-za-novu-tv—736705.html
He’s not realistically play if Oblak is there.
He needs to go out on loan.
It will finally be Hajduk’s year in the HNL. And Split will not let the rest of Croatia forget about it for the next 10 years.
Hajduk will squeak by Vitoria on Wednesday in Conference League to set up a date with Villareal in the final qualifying round. Although they won’t beat Villareal, it will give them a HUGE confidence boost knowing they went toe-to-toe with a top Spanish side and the 2021 Europa League champions.
Hajduk will run on all cylinders this season with a bit of hope AND if they don’t pick up any major injuries.
Splitska Riva…see you there May 2023 🙂
I’m a Dinamovac and I’m really baffled by them keeping Cacic as their head coach! The team has quality at almost every position but they lack strategy…and that’s all Cacic!
Hajduk are “ all for one, one for all” mentality and they have a really good coach! My only concern for them is their depth! They have a fantastic starting 11 that play a wonderful attacking style but they’re still a little thin in their bench. I truly hope they do well in Europe but with that said I think they’re led suffer in the league if they try to advance further in Europe!
On the other hand, Dinamo should probably beat Ludigrets to qualify for the next round in champions league qualifying and as much as that would be awesome for them I think it’ll play into them losing the HNL this season! Playing every 3-4 days is a big difference from playing once per week and I do believe Hajduk will capitalize on that!
Livaja has never been one of my favourite players but I’m gonna be credible and and I’ll admit the guy is incredible for Hajduk! I’ve rarely seen such an impactful player like him…the guy is a total beast and I never imagined he would ever be this good for Hajduk!
Livaja with Biuk and Sahiti are super dangerous and they’re gonna give nightmares to every team…I’m really hoping they keep things going…for the better of the league!
I like Hajduk’s creepy looking coach.
Completely stoic, no emotion or passion, doesn’t speak the language, looks like he burns in the sun, probably hates seafood….
Complete opposite of a Splicanin. Yet it works.
Great comment Slavonac! I too support Dinamo and welcome a more competitive domestic league!! If Hajduk can finally prove over an entire season they are the best side and become champions, that would be awesome for Hajduk supporters!!!
Varazdin playing surprisingly well. Lokomotiva is better than Osijek and Rijeka right now.
Krovinovic is by far the best midfielder in the league and deserves a call up as well as Lovre Kalinic, who is the most in-form goalkeeper Croatia has at the moment.
Lovren Kalinic still worries me because of the three years worth of failure at Aston Villa and Toulouse.
However, the goalkeeper position is definitely a “what have you done for me lately” position.
He’s been starting and apparently playing well for Hajduk, so he deserves a callup over guys like gaffe-machine Livakovic and Grbic (who is not starting).
We should probably be rolling with Ivusic and Kalinic (in that order) and try out Labrovic as a third keeper to see what he’s got.
It’s a real shame about Kacavenda.
If Lokosi were playing this well without him, I would imagine they would be a top-3 team this year with a pre-injury Kacavenda leading them.
Šibenik in the top 5
I’m afraid it would still be Dinamo
I predict too many brain farts from hajduk again
Wow that Graninho guy really knows what he’s talking about! Should have his opinions on here more often!
relative or agent?