Slaven Belupo and Rijeka occupy the top two positions in the league after victories over Zadar and Dragovoljac kept up their 100% records. Both teams look well equipped to have strong seasons, especially Belupo who have dispatched their victories with ease thus far. Belupo were 2-0 winners with goals from the talented Mateas Delic and playmaker Aljosa Vojinovic. Hjorve Strok bagged a double for Rijeka, with key striker Radomir Dalovic netting the other in the win over struggling Dragovoljac.
Ante Rukavina scored his first goal for Dinamo Zagreb, but he lasted only a half as the Croatian Champions were held to a 1-1 draw with Varazdin. Velimir Zajec dropped Igor Biscan and Etto to the bench and brought in Tomislav Barbaric and Ilija Sivonjic. Sivonjic, Slepicka and Dodo were again off target whilst Pedro Morales continues to sit out matches. Dinamo's powderpuff striking trio is becoming a running joke in Croatia and Velimir Zajec will need to act soon before his job becomes at risk. For the Varazdin a point was much deserved, with debutant Davor Vugrinec even threatening to bury Dinamo on several occasions.
There was no such for Karlovac who saw off tricky opponents in RNK Split 1-0. Lokomotiva won their second straight match at home to Istra 1961. Domagoj Antolic marked his return to the club with the only goal of the game. Istra meanwhile, who replaced Ante Mise with Robert Jarni as coach will return to Pula to revamp their squad.
Osijek are still without a win after drawing 0-0 at NK Zagreb. Osijek's Vedran Niksic and Josip Barisic have struggled to find the net in the early part of the season, so coach Tomislav Steinbuckner may soon turn to Croatia Under 19 player Anton Maglica.
Inter Zapresic, along with Istra and Dragovoljac already look strong candidates for relegation. Zapresic were defeated 1-0 by Cibalia, despite Stanko Mrsic's side having goalscorer Kresimir Prgomet red carded. Zapresic have lost several key players who have not benefitted from parting the club. Ilija Sivonjic, Dodo, Mario Grgurovic and Miroslav Saric all arguably belong at this level and their parting has not benefitted player nor club. Zapresic's new signings have all flattered to decieve so far and could be set to buy Dinamo's feeder club a ticket to HNL2. Zdravko Mamic's business dealings between Dinamo and Zapresic is arguably at the centre of both teams current goalscoring problems.
Sibenik also need to be wary of joining to teams adrift at the bottom. Sibenik appear to have serious scoring issues since the departure of Ermin Zec. Sibenik may look for recuitments to solve their troubles. They play Hajduk Split on Sunday.
