SIBENIK 3 SPLIT 0
LOKOMOTIVA 1 VARAZDIN 2
OSIJEK 1 DINAMO 3
HAJDUK 1 BELUPO 0
CIBALIA 3 DRAGOVOLJAC 0
ISTRA 0 RIJEKA 0
ZAGREB 1 KARLOVAC 2
ZAPRESIC 1 ZADAR 0
Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split moved clear of RNK Split at the top of the table after both claimed wins over Osijek and Slaven Belupo respectively. Dinamo beat Osijek 3-1 despite going behind to Vedran Nikisic's goal. Milan Badelj, Sammir and Fatos Beciraj who is starting to proving himself a decent goalscorer got Dinamo the full three points. Dinamo surprisingly played with two holding midfielders, with Mathias Chago having found himself a spot in the team. Over recent weeks Vahid Halilhodzic seems to have stopped rotating and has decided on an 11. Tomislav Barbaric, Luis Ibanez and Adrian Callelo have not regularly been in the frame, but its likely they are still part of the clubs plans. Dodo and Miroslav Slepicka seemed to have little future with the club.
Hajduk's 1-0 win over Slaven Belupo came via Ante Vukusic. This is his 12th goal in 16 games in all competitions. At this stage it is hard to pass judgement on whether this 19 year old will be a future Croatian player. However he has surprised many this season and is starting to fill the boots of the Nikola Kalinic, who was sold to Blackburn Rovers over a year ago. Rijeka stay fourth after a disappointing goalless draw with winless Istra Pula.
Cibalia moved up to 5th with a comfortable 3-0 win over Dragovoljac. Dino Kresinger, Kreso Prgomet and Mladen Bartolovic were on target. Varazdin claimed yet another great win defeating Lokomotiva away from home 2-1. The reliable Nino Bule struck for Lokomotiva, however Varazdin through Filip Svorc into the action who netted twice to turn the game in Varazdin's favour. Lokomotiva have dropped into the relegation zone and our counting the cost of injuries to key players. Bagaric, Sivonjic, Hajovic, Simic and Antolic are currently all laid low.
Whilst Lokomotiva struggle, Dinamo's former feeder club Zapresic have come to life with an series of 1-0 victories. This time recording a crucial win over strugglers Zadar thanks to Antun Palic's penalty. Zapresic are now free of the relegation zone and looking further up the table. The arrival of Matija Matko and the return of Mario Grgurovic has worked wonders for Zapresic. Aleksandr Trajkovski has also added competition up front after he was finally registered.
There also appears light at the end of the tunnel for Sibenik who demolished HNL1 team of the season so far RNK Split 3-0. The club is starting to get their best players fit again. Marko Kartelo and two goals from Drazen Jelic made the difference. With Sibenik and Zapresic showing fight, Zadar, Osijek and Lokomotiva need to raise their game. Zagreb are also slipping in the wrong direction, who were defeated by improving Karlovac 2-1. Neither side will be overly concerned at this stage.
