10th- Gorica
Similar to Slaven Belupo two seasons ago, Gorica last season opened up the first half of the season strong and contesting a European Spot. Like Slaven though, Gorica’s run was built on unexpected defensive tactics that caught most teams off guard, which compensated for the lack of attacking threat. Gorica slid into bad form in the back half of last season, this season Gorica continue their weak defensive form paired with losing even more attacking threats, mainly Josip Mitrović and Marko Soldo. While players like Banić and Štiglec stay, Gorica’s lack of depth and a far less impressive defense, makes them the weakest of the three sides in this year’s relegation battle. With no real replacements for key positions and a squad on par with the one that was nearly relegated 2 seasons ago sees them on a downward spiral, likely to the 1.NL.
9th- Šibenik
Šibenik enter the HNL with a battle tested squad that went the distance in a highly competitive title fight with Zrinski Osječko. Šibenik narrowly won the title on the last day of the season proving their ability to weather a full season while balancing form. Šibenik keep most of their current season from last season, while also adding a major prospect in Marin Prekodrovac to their squad. Prekodrovac recorded 21 appearances last season for Osijek, serving as a key prospect in their growing youth core. Gaining not only a huge HNL, but youth national team prospect on a 3-year deal is a great pick up for anyone in a relegation battle. Šibenik also have a stronger attacking core, keeping Josip Majić (14G) and Ivan Božić (13G) who were key assets in last seasons campaign. Šibenik also added a former Croatian national team striker, Ivan Santini to their attacking depth chart. While Šibenik seem strong, their defense is still a questionable spot that will determine how far this team can go this season.
8th- Slaven Belupo
Slaven Belupo are the experts of avoiding relegation in the HNL, while in later seasons they have leaned closer than usual to the bottom this season they will be kept close enough to the relegation battle to feel the pressure at some points, but ultimately the team does have enough established HNL talent to keep themselves above being too close to the drop zone. Slaven likely won’t impress anyone with skill or talent now that Hoxha and Crnac are gone, but the same Slaven tactics that have worked in seasons prior will be enough this season to finish in a semi-comfortable 8th place.
7th- Istra
Both Istra and Lokomotiva will both likely sit comfortably between 7th or 6th, while both teams will be easily safe from relegation Istra have a slightly weaker and less gelled squad that makes them more likely to finish in 7th. Adding Georgian striker Giorgi Gagua of Deportivo Alves was a major pick up for Istra, who lacked a serious threat going forward. Istra have a solid backline with keeper Lovro Majkić to build their squad off of. While at best this team could maybe compete for 6th, they will likely fall into 7th without having the depth that Lokomotiva have.
6th- Lokomotiva
Lokomotiva find themselves in between yet another fire sale of their most talented players, leaving the team with a shell of the squad that nearly got them to Europe last season. Of the losses that Lokomotiva saw this window, mainly Kačavenda, Čavlina and Šotiček will hurt the club the most. Typically in seasons where the Lokosi lose key players, tactics and performances become hit or miss. While overall squad wise they may have the edge over Varaždin who will finish higher than them, their squad lacks the consistency in their roster that has. While players like Duje Čop, Marin Leovac and Art Smakaj give them a talented roster, many positions that needed to be filled from last seasons departures have not arrived. Notably Lokomotiva’s lack of a solid keeper replacement for Čavlina leaves them exposed defensively.
5th- Varaždin
Varaždin come into this season with a very familiar and balanced squad that makes them the most competitive squad outside the top-4. Varaždin’s only two main losses are Fran Brodić and Luka Jelenić who have suitable replacements already within their ranks. With key players on all ends of the field, Nikola Šafarić enters into this 24/25 season with a team he knows inside and out, and a year in the HNL under his belt. With Šego, Drožđek, Duvnjak, and Zelenika all returning for this campaign, Varaždin are a side that could give real trouble to the big teams if they are not careful. Expect Varaždin and Šafarić now with HNL experience under their belt to be able to piece together a team that talent wise was able to push the limit for European play, to have tactics to back up that goal for Varaždin. While Varaždin will be good, unlike the past two seasons the top-4 all have the squad and mentality in their eyes to challenge for the title. Without a struggling Big 4 club to steal a European spot from, Varaždin’s campaign will end with them sitting directly midtable this season.
4th- Rijeka
Rijeka shocked everyone last season by giving Dinamo the biggest threat to a HNL title in years, while Rijeka maintained a squad strong enough to contend with Dinamo and Hajduk last season, many of their key assets are heading out the door. Losing Pjaca to title rivals, Dinamo definitely is a tough blow for Rijeka attack this season. However, most damaging will be Pašalić’s likely move to Wolverhampton this window. Losing two of their key players this campaign while both Dinamo, Hajduk, and Osijek have greatly improved will be tough for Rijeka this season. With the most likely path to Europe besides Dinamo, balancing Europa League or Conference League play on top of potentially the most evenly matched title fight in the HNL yet might be a little too much for Rijeka squad that has too many variables for them to repeat a successful campaign and title fight again.
3rd- Osijek
Barring Hajduk getting Rakitić and a healthy Perišić for the coming season, Osijek have had the strongest transfer window out of any other HNL club this summer. Bringing Jose Boto, who was a sporting director at Benfica, Shakhtar Donetsk, and PAOK, has seemed to pull of for the Bijelo-Plavi. Osijek brings in a Palmeiras academy star is Pedro Lima, who clocked minutes in both the Youth Premier League and EFL Championship last season for Norwich City. Lima is also joined by Reuncio Kewal from AZ Alkmaar as another player who has experience competing in major European leagues. Osijek also stole Croatian talents, Marko Soldo and Luka Jelenić from other HNL clubs this window. While Osijek over the past seasons has had talented players at their disposable, thanks to Boto their team seems to have the depth this season to contest with Hajduk and Dinamo for the title. While Osijek may find themselves to have a much better season then their last two lackluster campaigns, ultimately despite having Mierez their team still does not have the star power that are driving Hajduk and Dinamo this season. Osijek does have lots ofyoung potential in their ranks to make up for their lack of current stars in their team, mainly in Anton Matković who was ranked in Top 10 best striker prospects in the world for players born in 2006 by Transfermarkt. Osijek also have youngsters such as Ivan Cvijanović, Domagoj Bukvić, and Šimun Mikolčić who have been racking up experience and minutes at their disposable. Should Osijek hold onto their assets this season they could be a dangerous team this season and seasons to come.
2nd- Dinamo
Ultimately this seasons title race will come down to who blinks first between Dinamo and Hajduk. Both teams check all the major boxes; having good squad depth, talented squad and star players, and seasoned managers who can get the most out of their roster. Ultimately Dinamo’s rein at the top of the HNL has become less and less secure, this season will see Dinamo finally dethroned. Despite finishing 2nd Dinamo and Hajduk will likely go the distance together both sparingly giving up points. Baturina running the midfield and tempo of play will be Dinamo’s biggest strength going into this season. Bringing in Pjaca and Raul Torrente are two big signings that will be crucial, Pjaca serving as a replacement for losing Vidović leaving back to Bayern and Torrente as a much needed pick up in the backline for Dinamo. In the end Dinamo’s campaign will be one that will fall just short in the finish line, leaving historic rivals Hajduk as HNL champions.
1st- Hajduk
With the players that have been brought into Hajduk for this upcoming season, its clear that this team has one goal: win the HNL and end Hajduk’s title drought. Nikola Kalinić has brought in major reinforcements to Hajduk in short tenure. His ability to sign Vatreni legend and superstar, Ivan Rakitić and keep Ivan Perišić quickly made Hajduk the team to beat. With last season’s team nearly able to win the title for Hajduk, the current super team that Split is building are more than capable of going the distance. On top of bringing in key players and Eden Džeko still somewhat linked and rumored to join Hajduk, many of last seasons stars will still see key use in the squad. Mainly despite rumors, both Livaja and Pukštas staying will help give Italian manager, Gattuso building blocks to create his potentially title winning team. If everything goes right for Hajduk, their team which is the strongest in the HNL should be able to go the distance in title fight this season, finally returning Split a coveted league trophy back to the city for the first time since 2005.
Promoted- Zrinski Osječko
Zrinski Osječko are likely a shoe in to make their HNL debut next season. After having their club bought out by Osječko Pivo and moved from Jurejevac to Osijek the cash has been flowing in the club. Their new found sponsor and financier has taken a team bouncing between the 3rd and 4th tier to a title race for promotion into the HNL. Despite leading for most of the season, Zrinski found themselves falling short of back-to-back promotions on the last day, losing to league champions, Šibenik 2-0. This season however, there will no longer be a club with nearly as much backing to give them a fight for the title. Keeping the same squad as last season will likely see the Osijek based club enter the HNL for the first time in their history next season.
Other Predictions:
Markus–
Champion: Dinamo
MVP: Baturina
Top Goal Scorer: Mierez
Relegated Team: Šibenik
Perišić/Rakitić Performance: Perišić- 8G 9A, Rakitić-3G 7A
Ante–
Champion: Hajduk
MVP: Perišić
Top Goal Scorer: Pjaca
Relegated Team: Slaven Belupo
Perišić/Rakitić Performance: Perišić- 10G 9A, Rakitić- 5G 6A
CroatiaU14–
Champion: Dinamo
MVP: Baturina
Top Goal Scorer: Ivanović
Relegated Team: Istra
Perišić/Rakitić Performance: Perišić- 7G 8A, Rakitić- 5G 9A
Pete–
Champion: Hajduk
MVP: Baturina
Top Goal Scorer: Baturina
Relegated Team: Istra
Perišić/Rakitić Performance: Perišić- 7G 5A, Rakitić- 8G 10A
Zoric–
Champion: Dinamo
MVP: Baturina
Top Goal Scorer: Džeko (If He Signs)or Livaja
Relegated Team: Lokomotiva
Perišić/Rakitić Performance: Perišić- 4G 6A, Rakitić- 5G 8A
LOL, take off the homer glasses! Hajduk has done nothing to except create a retirement home. What about perisic and rakitic makes you think they are upgrades? Perisic is done and rakitic just wants to play and be loved. I like him and I do believe he has good intentions but cmon this is a semi vacation for him.
Hajduk has livaja who is slow rakitic now who is slow krovinovic is slow perisic who is done.
Now look at dinamo they literally have 2-3 players for every position. There so deep that players like pjaca have to play at a top form or they will be on the bench! I can easily see dinamo run away with this by Christmas even if they sell baturina having healthy kacavenda and stojkovic they will be covered.
I can envision rakitic giving up halfway thru the season & retiring if things aren’t going well for him on and off the field.Is his Mrs staying in Spain with the kids?
Will he become the de facto whipping boy if hajduk slumps ?
Finally, we beat Spain 10 – 8 in water polo to make the SF against the winner from Italy/Hungary match. Great effort by all, but especially our goalkeeper Bijac who made some great saves.
Serves Spain right for what their refs tried to do to us during the Greece game (that we won anyway).
Dinamo will win the title again. Hajduk had a great opportunity to win last season when Dinamo struggled especially for the first half of the season, yet Hajduk fell apart.
Perisic and Rakitic will make some difference and perhaps Hajduk can come second ahead of Rijeka and Osijek? Hajduk at the moment does not have the depth and they need to buy some quality players especially up front. Dinamo on the other hand has the depth and enough quality players which will enable them to rest and rotate players between HNL and European commitments.
Sibenik or Gorica to be relegated and Mierez to be the top scorer.
How’s Rakitić been looking?
He might be done already.
Rakitic is not match fit, played almost 80 min against Slaven Belupo.
I think he will do well in midfield for Hajduk and his set pieces around the box will also be beneficial.
Oops Mierez has left Osijek and HNL.