ZAPRESIC 5 LOKOMOTIVA 0 (Hrncevic, Orsic, Bosec, Palic 2)
RIJEKA 2 SLAVEN BELUPO 1 (Strok, Kreilach/ Delic)
ZADAR 2 ZAGREB 1 (Sare/ Sukaj)
VARAZDIN 1 KARLOVAC 0 (Brezovec)
SIBENIK 2 ISTRA 2 (Grgic, Alispahic/ Andjelkovic, Pauletic)
OSIJEK 1 DRAGOVOLJAC 1 (Barisic/ Svaric)
SPLIT 1 HAJDUK 1 (Golubovic/ Vukusic)
DINAMO 2 CIBALIA 0 (Vrsaljko, Tomecak)
Dinamo are back in the top three and just a point behind Hajduk Split after defeating Cibalia 2-0. Sime Vrsaljko, who is covering at left back and the returning Ivan Tomecak scored the goals. Dinamo restored Pedro Morales to the side and also gave a run out to Ilija Sivonjic. Etto continues to function in a attacking role. Luis Ibanez and Adrian Callelo has dropped to the bench. Dinamo will soon have to make a decision on front men Sivonjic and Dodo, following the arrival of Jakub Silvestr from Slovan Bratislava.
Rijeka remain unbeaten after six games after defeating Slaven Belupo 2-1. In form duo Hjorve Strok and Damir Kreilach collected there goals, with young prospect Mateas Delic netting for Belupo. Zagreb meanwhile had their first loss, as they went down 2-1 to Zadar. Zadar under the guidance of Dalibor Zebic remain a steady HNL1 club. Albanian Xhevahir Sukaj scored his first goal for Zagreb.
Varazdin have moved upto 5th place after a excellant 1-0 win over Karlovac. Varazdin were expected to be highly beleaguered this season. However the club have been inspired by former players Davor Vugrinec and now Nikola Safaric returning to their aid and have fallen upon on a good crop of young players. Goalscorer Josip Brezovec is the picked of the bunch at present and could even transfer abroad before the transfer deadline this week.
Down near the bottom of the table Istra Pula and Inter Zapresic are finally showing signs of life. Zapresic took advantage of 3 red cards for Lokomotiva to record a 5-0 victory. Croatia Under 21 international Antun Palic scored twice. Istra Pula meanwhile have finally laid their hands on new signings and recorded a 2-2 draw with Sibenik, who gave a debut to Niko Tokic. Istra announced the signing of former Hajduk midfielder Sinisa Linic and also intend to recruit Medimurje Brazilian playmaker Eliomar at the start of the week. Dragovoljac also recorded a point drawing 1-1 with out of form Osijek who this week announced Robert Spehar as their new president.
TRANSFER ACTIVITY
Zapresic and Istra are expected to be engaged in transfer activity at the start of the week. Zapresic may be recieving Dinamo's Ilija Sivonjic or Dodo if Dinamo are successful in the purchase of Lokomotive Moscow forward Fall or Ergotelis's Mario Budimir. Both players are likely to cost over 1.5m Euro's to sign. Budimir and Fall however have a first team place at his club and may gain better moves by staying another season in Russia and Greece respectively.
Rijeka and Hajduk will focus on keeping their sides togethers rather than selling, though Hajduk's Kresimir Ljubicic may be made available for loan. Galatasaray are likely to place a bid for Senijad Ibricic for around 10m Euro's, if Schalke beat them to the signing of countryman Zvejezdan Misimovic. Fortunately for Hajduk reports suggest the Turkish club are close to signing Misimovic. Rijeka are attempting to stave off interest from Amkar Perm and Sheffield Wednesday in their Montenegrin international striker Radomir Dalovic.
